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how to correct stunting in baby birds2007-11-24 17:21:44Answers:

Stunting is sometimes caused by low temperatures and not enough nutrition. You can correct some situations by feeding a slightly thicker hand feeding formula if you're hand feeding, or you can add hand feeding formula to the parents' food if the babies are still with their parents. Besides that there's not much you can do. Some birds recover when they're older. Others will remain runts for the rest of their lives. Sometimes it's genetics or the baby isn't as strong as the other birds for whatever reason. About the most we can do is supplement feedings and raise the brooder temp (if the babies are being hand fed) about a degree or two.

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What do you mean "stunting"? What is stunting?

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If you mean stunted growth, there really isn't a way. You can only continue giving them warmth and filling their little crops with nutritious formula. If your birds are really malnourished, they'll probably have very dark green droppings from liver damage, or watery droppings from other disorders. Their heads will look too large for their bodies, compared to pictures of other babies. Correcting the diet now will prevent further organ damage. I do not recommend using vitamin supplements without the guidence of a DVM, because the chicks' tiny organs will sustain injury from large quantities of the kinds of vitamins that aren't eliminated from the body through urination.

If you know the cause of the stunting, or if there is another problem, like splayed legs or crop dysfunction, you can contact me if you'd like. I'd be glad to help you figure out what to do.