As a newbie to raising chickens, I have observed a few things about my chicks that I wasn't prepared for by reading the care manuals. Chick behavior can tend to be alarming to a new chicken mom, for sure! For the first week I was constantly "pretty sure" that my chicks were knocking at death's door--but in the end they were only doing what chicks do.
The first thing I noticed that concerned me and I wasn't prepared for is that chicks fall asleep and look really dead. They might just wobble drunkenly and then drop over--or worse, you might find them sprawled all out with their little, teeny heads lulled to the side (very dead looking). Luckily, just before I finished planning the poor chicken's memorial service I checked to see if she was still breathing. Whew! just sleeping--no need for alarm. Cancel the bagpipe player!
The second thing I learned is that just because a tiny piece of a bird poo gets stuck to their hiney does not mean that they are pasted up. I think my poor chicks endured a lot of unnecessary butt cleanings because I was convinced they were pasted up and near death. Just keep checking to make sure that they are not building up droppings--a lot of times the other birds will take care of this poo for you or else the droppings are, in fact, not covering their vent at all. Cancel the flower arrangements!
Also, some chicks are just naturally smaller and some days a chick will sleep more than the others (for the time that you are watching them). Every once and a while a chick just does something weird--like list to the side. It's probably not an avian stroke--they might just be scratching their wing on the the pole they are roosting on. (Sheepish grin, my husband was absolutely right when he said "You're a little crazy--the chicks are fine")
In the end, I must admit I'm not in control of whether they live or die. I can care for them the best I know how and must leave the rest up to the one who made them. He knows better than me, that's for sure! He decides how long they will be with me. I'm so thankful for the fact that they are healthy and happy (I'm pretty sure they're happy--I know I'm happy)!
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