1 day old baby chick with exposed scalp or head abnormality

[pinkl72]

First time broody hen is hatching out a clutch of eggs on the floor of a nesting coop. No chickens roost in there but the other hens still go in to lay in the nesting boxes on the other side of the coop. There is a piece of wood at the foot of the entrance to prevent the little chicks from leaving but big hens can come and go. There is another broody hen sitting on a clutch in the other end. I peeked in today and saw at least 4 chicks and she is still sitting. I saw one baby with a red head. I initially thought some kind of birth defect because it doesn't appear to be an injury but I really don't know. Any help is appreciated. The chick seems fine, i.e., walking around, chirping, drinking.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Please clarify --- Is that really just a bald scalp, or is there exposed brain with no skull in that area?
hmmm.... either way, it's doubtful the chick will survive. That area will be a pecking magnet for other chicks and chickens. I think you'd have to separate it, or at least keep the area covered with blu-kote or something similar to discourage pecking.

 

[pinkl72]

Please clarify --- Is that really just a bald scalp, or is there exposed brain with no skull in that area?
hmmm.... either way, it's doubtful the chick will survive. That area will be a pecking magnet for other chicks and chickens. I think you'd have to separate it, or at least keep the area covered with blu-kote or something similar to discourage pecking.

I'm really not sure. I separated her immediately and brought her inside, but she didn't make it through the night

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I'm so sorry. Raising chicks can be emotionally hard on us sometimes!