My dog came to me whining and running to the back door. I went to investigate and heard one of my chicks cheeping/crying out and saw a fluff ball on the ground in the run by itself (strange because all 7 of the chicks usually stay together or break up in groups of 3 or 4). I went out to see what was wrong and saw that it was laying on it's side with the wing bent back behind it. I moved it over onto it's belly and it's wing went back to where it should go, without protest from the chick. S/he didn't try to run to it's hatch mates like I thought it would. It just stayed laying there on the ground. I picked it up and looked at it's legs, they seemed find, so I set it back down. S/he stayed on it's feet, but seemed a little off balance and didn't try to walk or move, just kept cheeping like something was wrong. I picked it up and brought it inside. As soon as I closed the door, the rest of the chicks were back out in the run doing their normal business. I gently rinsed and rubbed the chick with luke warm water to check for injuries. I found an older scab on its back and a new (tiny) wound by the wing that was it was laying on. It didn't fight the "bath", though it didn't really seem to enjoy it, either. I put it in a box with a towel while I could set up something better.
I ended up using an empty 10 gal fish tank (it's clean). I put shavings in the bottom like we did with the brooder from the chicks we had back in February. I put a small dish of food and water, as well as grit on one side of the tank, and a saltine cracker box cut in half with the tabs removed for some shelter from the prying eyes of my 2 dogs, cat, and toddler. S/he has been hiding in the box since I put him/her in there about an hour ago. I tried to get his/her little banty hatch mate out of the run so that it wouldn't be too lonely, but I just am not fast enough or limber enough to grab it right now (7 month pregnant belly hinders movement). I think I'll have my hubby get the other chick tonight when he gets home.
I think one of the older pullets (3 months old) was pecking at it, but I can't be sure who it was, and I'm surprised that it's happened now, since they've been living together for so long without issues. The chick hasn't even relaxed enough to lay down in it's shelter, it's just still standing and looks like it's breathing rapidly or has a fast heart rate, which I'm sure is due to stress.
Is there anything you guys can recommend to help make it more comfortable and relaxed? Do you think it has more problems than just what I could see since it was laying down outside? As soon as I was done rinsing it, it was trying to hop out of the basin and walk around a bit.
I ended up using an empty 10 gal fish tank (it's clean). I put shavings in the bottom like we did with the brooder from the chicks we had back in February. I put a small dish of food and water, as well as grit on one side of the tank, and a saltine cracker box cut in half with the tabs removed for some shelter from the prying eyes of my 2 dogs, cat, and toddler. S/he has been hiding in the box since I put him/her in there about an hour ago. I tried to get his/her little banty hatch mate out of the run so that it wouldn't be too lonely, but I just am not fast enough or limber enough to grab it right now (7 month pregnant belly hinders movement). I think I'll have my hubby get the other chick tonight when he gets home.
I think one of the older pullets (3 months old) was pecking at it, but I can't be sure who it was, and I'm surprised that it's happened now, since they've been living together for so long without issues. The chick hasn't even relaxed enough to lay down in it's shelter, it's just still standing and looks like it's breathing rapidly or has a fast heart rate, which I'm sure is due to stress.
Is there anything you guys can recommend to help make it more comfortable and relaxed? Do you think it has more problems than just what I could see since it was laying down outside? As soon as I was done rinsing it, it was trying to hop out of the basin and walk around a bit.
