2 day old baby with curled feet, HELP!

[MaineChick87]

The best thing I know is for Mother Nature to take its course but it is so hard for me to just sit by while an animal is suffering. I can't kill it. I've watched these eggs develop and then hatch. The thing is tho that the other chicks are already bullying this little one and I've had to seperate her from the rest. She tries to scoot about but it looks as though it hurts. I'm not sure if its one or both but the other chicks are fine. I have 9 total. The rest are eating and drinking but this one won't. So I have been giving a little chick started Mush in a medicine dropper. I looked for liquid vitamin without iron but couldn't find it. Please what should I do?

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[MaineChick87]

 

[Brookliner]

The chick is young enough that splinting might work. Look up chicken podiatry in the search. There are articles on chick shoes.
Gook luck with your chick.

 

[MaineChick87]

I've looked up chick shoes and chick chairs but every post I read ends with the baby chick dying. I just can't wait till I find her dead in the brooder. She's suffering and although I would love to try and save her I just don't think she's going to make it. What is a humane way to euthinize a baby chick?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have 2 grown hens that have curled toes. They had them as chicks and I got them as straightened as I could.I took the q-tips cut the tips off and used the shafts. I used baby bandages on them to hold them in place and it helped some. No they would not walk while in them. Yes they acted like it hurt a lot more having them on. Yes it straightened them enough for them to get around better. It took over a week of intensive work to get them straightened as much as I could. I was at my wits end with them and ended up after almost two weeks taking them off and giving them the "live or die it is up to you now" talk.
It was difficult making sure they had enough food and water throughout the day too since I work and am gone for 9.5 hours a day.

If you want to try then do so now. Earlier is much easier than later.

 

[Blooie]

I've looked up chick shoes and chick chairs but every post I read ends with the baby chick dying. I just can't wait till I find her dead in the brooder. She's suffering and although I would love to try and save her I just don't think she's going to make it. What is a humane way to euthinize a baby chick?

Scout had his feet bandaged, although it wasn't real successful because his curled toes were caused by severe frostbite. This is what they looked like before:


Scout's feet before trying the taping.


Poor little dude thought he was hatched out of a chicken egg and became a duck!


We didn't get much straightening because he was a few weeks old when we tried it, so it was too late.


But as you can see, he did great! If you enlarge the picture you can see his stubby little feet, but he flew, he roosted, he bred the girls, he scratched in the dirt - the Good Lord forgot to tell him he was disabled and we sure weren't going to either! So go ahead and splint your baby's feet - all you can do is try and if it doesn't work, she may still surprise you with how well she adapts!

 

[MaineChick87]

That's what I am hoping for but this was an assisted hatch because I thought it was my fault he got stuck to the shell. She was able to twist and zip but couldn't push out. She was also the last to hatch. But how could I watch after knowing she's stuck. I had to moisten her up and help out she did most of the work when she realized she wasn't stuck. But she shakes and looks glassy and wet around the eyes. I hope she makes it but I don't know she doesn't seem to want to eat. She'll drink some vitamin water but isn't too interested in the food. I just don't want to wait and find her dead in the brooder. Then I would know she suffered when I could have made it painless. I just don't know what that way would be. But till then I'm going to try splinting her feet as best as I can and try to relieve the pressure. I'm a massage therapist for humans but now knowing the benefits am now a chicken massage therapist as well! hopefully she comes around. She even looks better today. Time will tell I hope I make the right choice.

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[MaineChick87]

 

[21hens-incharge]

Are you feeding her mash? I would be feeding her the small crumble chick starter and making it into a mash. (You can crush the regular chick crumble finer too)
I think she stands a chance.

 

[MaineChick87]

I'm feeding her mashed med starter fees with a dropper, baby liquid vitamin without iron, xxx vitamin water, Greek yogurt and trying to get mealworms into her but by having luck with solids. I have made chick shoes and chair that she sits in twice for an hour at a time. She can not walk what so ever but flaps her wings. She is separated from the rest so i try to give her a lot of attention but she's not gaining any weight. But has figured out how to prop herself into a sitting position. I have now named her Angel because she uses her "angel wings" to move about. I love her and just can't get rid of her. I call it a her in hopes that she's a hen. I can't have roosters where I live and would hate after all this work to have to find a new home.

I love all the comments and encouragement that she will make it through this hard time and learn to adapt with her special needs