4 day old chick not eating

[Hopeful homesteader]

This chick hatched sometime in the morning 4 days ago under a hen. The hen rejected it and pecked it's head drawing blood so I took it away, washed the wound and applied triple antibiotic. On day 2 I noticed it's legs spread to its sides to which I found splayed legs and bound them together with medical tape and it's making some pretty good progress there. I've gotten to drink fairly quickly by dipping it's beak in the water and it goes back and fourth drinking freely but I have not seen it eat and I've been sitting with it poking the chick crumbles to no avail, I've even left it scattered on the floor of the box in case it starts pecking at it when I'm not there. Today now day 4 and I haven't seen it eat and seeing it's recent poop, it looks like a clear drop of water with a green streak in it which I'm assuming means it's not eating even in my absence. I just got an egg yolk and mixed it with some chick crumbles and it did start drinking up a little yolk before getting sleepy again so I'll try again in 20-30 minutes. What else can I do to get this little one to start eating? I've attached a picture of the chick and it's recent poop.

 

[Debbie292d]

That green poop is normal for their first day. Also, they can go 72 hours without food as they absorb the yolk.

I think it's acting pretty normal and should turn around soon.

I make a mash by adding water to the crumbles and put it in a peanut butter jar lid. They don't seem to like that the first couple of days, but then after that, it's mostly what they like.

Cute chick!!

The hen may have noticed it was deformed (splayed legs) thus why she was rejecting it. After this chick gets past the splayed legs in a day or two, and is eating/drinking fine, you could try give it back to the hen. I'd watch for a few minutes to see it's accepted though.

 

[calychicken]

To jumpstart its eating, try mixing water and food in a small syringe. Feed the chick carefully (slowly, without forcing too much down its throat). I recently got a chick from the feed store that could barely stand and would drink frequently, but not eat. We had to syringe feed that little one, now she's 3 months old and doing great. The chick may also have failure to thrive, which means it will die, and you can't do anything. like @Debbie292d said, they can go hours without food and water after hatching. Good luck and let us know how it's doing soon!

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

To jumpstart its eating, try mixing water and food in a small syringe. Feed the chick carefully (slowly, without forcing too much down its throat). I recently got a chick from the feed store that could barely stand and would drink frequently, but not eat. We had to syringe feed that little one, now she's 3 months old and doing great. The chick may also have failure to thrive, which means it will die, and you can't do anything. like @Debbie292d said, they can go hours without food and water after hatching. Good luck and let us know how it's doing soon!

I made a mash and put it in a lid from a baby food jar and it started eating it. I figured out it wants to stand in my hand to eat, when I put it down it just starts chirping at me and searching for my hands.

 

[calychicken]

I made a mash and put it in a lid from a baby food jar and it started eating it. I figured out it wants to stand in my hand to eat, when I put it down it just starts chirping at me and searching for my hands.

that's great! Once its eating and drinking, it should be fine with a little guidance.

 

[ChicNmom]

I made a mash and put it in a lid from a baby food jar and it started eating it. I figured out it wants to stand in my hand to eat, when I put it down it just starts chirping at me and searching for my hands.

You're the mama now!!!