4 day old chick almost pecked to death

[ClickityChick123]

Hi everyone, so yesterday night we picked up a couple day old chick from a friend who mamma hen didn't accept and was just being pecked bare in the coop by the older hens, so he pulled her out and gave her to us. We are giving her medicated chick starter and electrolyte and vitamin water. She eats and drinks fine and poops are normal. The people who gave her to us had been putting bactiracin zinc ointment on her back and said that it's been helping, but would something else help better? Will she need to be kept warmer than a usual chick? Will the feathers on her back ever grow back? Also I'm afraid she'll get lonely all alone and we have a ten week old silkie that would be closest to her size, should i put them together to keep her company?

P.S. Any names would be appreciated as well! Thank you!

 

[GodLovesU]

I would be concerned that the silkie would peck at her. I would be sure to keep her wounds clean. I’m not sure if her feathers will grow back. Does she stay under the heat lamp or try to get away from it? For a name suggestion, how about Hope?

 

[Eggcessive]

Bacitracin is okay, but I usually use plain neosporin triple antibiotic generic. Dab the wound with saline twice a day and apply fresh ointment until it heals. Her heat should be around 90 degrees (use a thermometer under the heat light) the first week, and go down by 5 degrees each week. Make sure that she can get to a cooler spot if she is hot. Keep the lamp at least 18 inches away from her back or she could burn. She probably needs to be with a chick her size. Do the people have a spare chick? You could make a dark T shirt to hide her wound from another chick. Or they could have a screen divider between them.

 

[ClickityChick123]

I would be concerned that the silkie would peck at her. I would be sure to keep her wounds clean. I’m not sure if her feathers will grow back. Does she stay under the heat lamp or try to get away from it? For a name suggestion, how about Hope?

That was my concern as well. She stays under the heat lamp most of the time just standing there. I also LOVE the name hope!

 

[ClickityChick123]

Keep the lamp at least 18 inches away from her back or she could burn.

We don't have a heat lamp, just a regular bulb, but it keeps the temperature nice and warm. Does it still need to be 18 inches away? Not that's her

Do the people have a spare chick?

Not that are her age, while they were on vacation this little girl hatched, so the other ones would be a bit older than her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is the bulb an incandescent bulb or what type? Does it put out enough heat. You should place a cheap thermometer under it to keep track of the temp. Is she in your house or outside?

 

[Birdlove2011]

The feathers will grow back over some time. I had a very similar incident were 2 of my chicks got scalped from pecking on the side of their head and eye. Its been about 2.5 months and their feather finally came back in. I also used a triple antibiotic ointment(over counter) and vetericyn plus wound care and worked great. Daily clean and medicine application. I saw progress in their healing about 2 wks in from the initial incident.

 

[Birdlove2011]

My chicks preferred a dark warm spot to heal. To be honest I used a pair of fuzzy sock slippers and each one went into their slipper sock and slept for majority of the time. They came out to eat and drink occasionally but would instantly go back to their fuzzy sock.

 

[ClickityChick123]

Is the bulb an incandescent bulb or what type? Does it put out enough heat. You should place a cheap thermometer under it to keep track of the temp. Is she in your house or outside?

It's incandescent, and we have a thermometer under it. She's in our kitchen in a brooder.

 

[ClickityChick123]

The feathers will grow back over some time.

That's great to know! I was so worried she'd be bare forever!