Runting-stunting syndrome (RSS)

FollyFowl · **Joined:** Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:40 pm **Posts:** 2

I believe I have 3 x 8 month old pekin bantams with Runting-stunting syndrome (RSS) and although I believe I have diagnosed the problem I am at a loss to know what to do about it? I want to ask the breeders with vast experience what if anything you do. Do you try to rectify the syndrome with diet supplements or just put the birds down?

Roova · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:12 am

I'd never heard of runting stunting syndrome and had to google it. From what I read its not a well defined syndrome and there seems to be no set cause. It could be husbandry, poor genetics, environmental challenges, feeding and nutrition, infectious disease or a combination of these.

What makes you think your pullets have it? Were they raised with others who are all thriving and larger?

I think the growth of the pullets would be hard to rectify now with diet so maybe you could sell them as backyard layers rather than putting them down? Unless they seem unhealthy as well as small though.

Without knowing your setup or their diet it would be hard to determine what could be the cause. Have you worked though each of the above possible causes to see if anything could be recitifed there so it doesn't happen in the future to you?

FollyFowl · **Joined:** Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:40 pm **Posts:** 2

I believe my diet is adequate and yes all excluding the 3 are normal size and weight so perhaps based on that it may be poor genetics. My set up is clean and I believe above industry standards so I feel I can eliminate those factors. I was interested to know if a member has experienced the syndrome and if any fowl have recovered from it?

I thank you for your thought however

Carl · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:01 pm **Posts:** 2

I get allot of runts with my silkies I just put it down to some inbreeding after reading this I'm not sure now. Would the diet of the parents have an effect as in the eggs are not nutritious enough for the chicks?

Roova · **Posted:** Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:36 pm

Absolutely the diet of your breeding stock effects the outcome of their eggs.

Healthy hens (and roosters) produce good quality eggs which in turn produce healthy vigourous chicks.

Carl · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:01 pm **Posts:** 2

Maybe I need to look at their diet then
Is there a particular vitamin I need to focus on?

Roova · **Posted:** Wed Dec 01, 2010 3:45 pm

It would be impossible to tell without knowing what their current diet is. It might be worth starting a new thread so FollyFowls thread doesn't get interruped by a different topic.

Maybe mention in your new thread everything you can about your current feeding regime for adults and chickens, your housing and exactly what are the problem's you're having. As much information as possible help's, otherwise its just guess work which won't help you.

vallymore · **Joined:** Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:10 pm **Posts:** 1

I found this interesting so thought I would add my findings. I have Pekin bantams and Silkies now I breed both as pure but for broodies I cross the two breeds and I find them better mums. The interesting part is a do get each year a couple of runts from the cross breeding but never from the pure pairings. I know in my case it is not diet nor do I think its poor genetic rather it’s a clash of genetics I think a reject of the two if you understand what I am trying to say. I am no expert on genetics but that’s how it appears to me for my one or two cross runts a year.

Wyandotte Champ · **Joined:** Thu Nov 25, 2010 5:33 pm **Posts:** 22

Genetics would play a part in some studs but for the average backyarders it would be diet and a vit deficiency

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