2 day old chick kicking/scratching at face and falling backwards!

[nightowl223]

Are any of the other chicks pecking around or at her eyes? Some chicks can see something and get obsessed about pecking it. If this is the case a small mirror or something to distract or play with can diffuse the situation and keep the chick from pecking...

Mirrors and toys are always a hit in the brooder. I also give mine those little plastic cat toy balls, as long as there's nothing inside them that they could manage to get out to hurt them, or holes large enough for them to get their feet stuck in. The ones with the little bells inside are the usual ones I get.

I also set them up with a little, low tub with sand or dirt in it for them to dustbathe in, if i don't already have them on sand, and as long as they're over a week old (so they have figured out what is and isn't food - they can fill up on sand and become malnourished). There's nothing cuter than watching baby fluffybutts dustbathing!

(minor edits to fix spelling and grammar)

 

[EsqChick]

I think she could have a vitimin deficiency. Crazy chick syndrome or something like that. Can be genetic or cause by a vitamin deficiency. Mom wasn't getting something maybe. Try a drop of vit E oil in the beak. Be careful because you don't want chick to aspirate. Or get some chick vitamins for the water. But if you have Vit E capsules at home get a small drop in her. See if things change. Then put some bird vitamins in the water for them for a few days.

I’ve put the Sav-Achick electrolytes in the water since I got them Saturday. Hoping that helps. It’s monday and she’s still ok for now.

 

[EsqChick]

No, thankfully. She hasn’t been pecked far as I can tell.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I’ve put the Sav-Achick electrolytes in the water since I got them Saturday. Hoping that helps. It’s monday and she’s still ok for now.

Well, Save a Chick doesn't have the vitamins that she would need. I would look for a more complete vitamin mix without the added salt. Or try the drop of Vit E oil from the people vitamin aisle.

Avian Super Pack is a good choice for birds and it doesn't have salt as first ingredient. Would likely find it online though. Tractor supply has some Layer booster type additives for the water.

 

[EsqChick]

Well, Save a Chick doesn't have the vitamins that she would need. I would look for a more complete vitamin mix without the added salt. Or try the drop of Vit E oil from the people vitamin aisle.

Avian Super Pack is a good choice for birds and it doesn't have salt as first ingredient. Would likely find it online though. Tractor supply has some Layer booster type additives for the water.

Thanks! The nearest Tractor Supply is about 1/2 hour from me, so I don't know if I'll be able to go today after work, but I will definitely make it a point to get the vitamins from the people aisle. I also read some people saying that I should or could give her the infant vitamins (without iron). Do you think I'd be best to try that as opposed to E only (at least if I am unable to get the Avian Super pack.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well, Save a Chick doesn't have the vitamins that she would need. I would look for a more complete vitamin mix without the added salt. Or try the drop of Vit E oil from the people vitamin aisle.

Avian Super Pack is a good choice for birds and it doesn't have salt as first ingredient. Would likely find it online though. Tractor supply has some Layer booster type additives for the water.

It depends on which Sav-A-Chick product she has. Most now, I believe do have added vitamins including Vitamin E.

I do agree that too much sodium in electrolytes should be watched, so it's best to limit electrolytes to a couple of days.

Poultry Nutri-Drench (PND) in the water for all the chicks is usually a good idea for a few days. Chicks can also be direct dosed with a couple of drops as well.

https://www.savacaf.com/products/sav-a-chick-electrolyte-vitamin-supplement/
Potassium chloride, sodium citrate, dextrose, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, vitamin D3 supplement, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin A supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement (vitamin B3), magnesium sulfate, calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), folic acid (vitamin B9), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (vitamin K), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), artificial color, silicon dioxide.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

I have a chicken that is scratching furiously at her eyes also. She scratches at one eye vigorously for about five whole seconds, then puts that foot down and immediately scratches at the other eye with her other foot. Then she switches again to the other eye and so on. She made herself bloody doing this. I dusted her face and vent for mites with DE although I didn’t see any. Her scratches under her eyes are healed now but she still scratches at them. I thought maybe it could’ve been an eye worm but I think she would only have been scratching one eye then. Recently I noticed one of my other hens was scratching (not as vigorously) at her face and I looked and there were a little bubbles in the corner of her eye.

If she were a chick the hen definitely would’ve fallen over from scratching. I don’t think it’s a vitamin deficiency

 

[MrsBachbach]

I have a chicken that is scratching furiously at her eyes also. She scratches at one eye vigorously for about five whole seconds, then puts that foot down and immediately scratches at the other eye with her other foot. Then she switches again to the other eye and so on. She made herself bloody doing this. I dusted her face and vent for mites with DE although I didn’t see any. Her scratches under her eyes are healed now but she still scratches at them. I thought maybe it could’ve been an eye worm but I think she would only have been scratching one eye then. Recently I noticed one of my other hens was scratching (not as vigorously) at her face and I looked and there were a little bubbles in the corner of her eye.

If she were a chick the hen definitely would’ve fallen over from scratching. I don’t think it’s a vitamin deficiency

It could also be an allergy to something. I've had a few chicks over the years display this also. One time I took the vitamin mix out of the water and saw improvement. I've concluded if it's not a deficiency or reaction, it's crazy chick syndrome.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a chicken that is scratching furiously at her eyes also. She scratches at one eye vigorously for about five whole seconds, then puts that foot down and immediately scratches at the other eye with her other foot. Then she switches again to the other eye and so on. She made herself bloody doing this. I dusted her face and vent for mites with DE although I didn’t see any. Her scratches under her eyes are healed now but she still scratches at them. I thought maybe it could’ve been an eye worm but I think she would only have been scratching one eye then. Recently I noticed one of my other hens was scratching (not as vigorously) at her face and I looked and there were a little bubbles in the corner of her eye.

If she were a chick the hen definitely would’ve fallen over from scratching. I don’t think it’s a vitamin deficiency

How old is your chick?

I would not dust the face with DE, it could be more of an irritant than anything.
Flush your chicks eyes with saline and apply an eye ointment like Terramycin or use Vetericyn eye gel/wash.

Scratching can be from getting dirt/dander in the eye, infection, etc.

If you suspect that lice or mites is the cause, then use a permethrin based product labeled for use in poultry-you can find these at stores like Tractor Supply.

Vitamin deficiencies are more common than you think. Parent stock may be lacking in certain vitamins/minerals, feed may be old (the older, the less viable the nutrients), some chick(ens) don't process/absorb nutrients like they should either. I won't hurt to direct dose a chick once a day with something like Poultry Nutri-Drench for 3days in a row and then once a week to see if that helps.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

How old is your chick?

I would not dust the face with DE, it could be more of an irritant than anything.
Flush your chicks eyes with saline and apply an eye ointment like Terramycin or use Vetericyn eye gel/wash.

Scratching can be from getting dirt/dander in the eye, infection, etc.

If you suspect that lice or mites is the cause, then use a permethrin based product labeled for use in poultry-you can find these at stores like Tractor Supply.

Vitamin deficiencies are more common than you think. Parent stock may be lacking in certain vitamins/minerals, feed may be old (the older, the less viable the nutrients), some chick(ens) don't process/absorb nutrients like they should either. I won't hurt to direct dose a chick once a day with something like Poultry Nutri-Drench for 3days in a row and then once a week to see if that helps.

My chicken is about 11months old

Okay thanks