A hammer fell on my baby chick

[Chicken Mamma11]

Many of us have had worse accidents with baby chicks happen. It's terribly guilt provoking, but guilt won't help the chick. You are doing everything you can to help the chick, so it cancels out guilt. Stop thinking about it. The chick is likely now to recover.

Next, dissolve a B-complex tablet in the chick's water. This is a vitamin you can buy anywhere they sell vitamins for people. The tablets are water soluble and overdose isn't an issue as excess is excreted in the poops. It will help heal any nerve damage that the chick has sustained. You will probably need to give this B-complex for the next few weeks until the chick is back to normal. By the way, it can turn the chick's poop yellow so don't worry about it.

I have this vitamin and electrolyte powder. Will this work or should I do only B complex?

 

[azygous]

It is not sufficient. You need B-complex with at least 50mg each of B-2, 6, and 12.

 

[Chicken Mamma11]

Aw, I’m so sorry this happened! You have gotten great advice here, and are doing a wonderful job. Try not to beat yourself up, though I know how hard it is not to feel guilty! I few weeks ago I got a new shipment of chicks in. A lot of them were struggling from the shipment, so I gave them Lots of TLC, and spent my whole day with them. I lost a few, and a few recovered. And one was still under extensive care. After I got them all back in their feet, I put them in the outdoor chick brooder I use. They thrived and I was so happy! I didn’t realize it, but the heater I was using was faulty. I came out one morning, feeling encouraged and excited, and found a whole bunch of frozen chicks I was only able to revive two. I was crushed, so I definitely know how you feel! Accidents are just part of raising animals, you can’t blame yourself. I almost wanted to quit chicken raising that day. But we can’t let the guilt get tl us! You are clearly a wonderful chick parent, and doing a great job. My best wishes!!

I'm so sorry. That must have been devastating. I know what you mean about wanting to quit. It's so heartbreaking sometime. Some people tell me they are only chickens but I can't help it I love all the little fluff butts. We had a full grown hen eat something metal from the ground. She got heavy metal poisoning. We were going on a camping trip and we took her with us so we could give her the meds she needed every few hours. Everyone made fun of us for having a chicken and one lady told us we were pathetic. Poor Shirley ended up passing anyway but at least I did what I could. Thank you for the kind words. I really needed them today.

 

[Chicken Mamma11]

It is not sufficient. You need B-complex with at least 50mg each of B-2, 6, and 12.

Okay thank you, I will get to the store and get some.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Thank you, I feel so awful. I don't even know how it happened. I heard a thud and there was a baby under a hammer.

I feel you I would feel awful but you are doing great with her!

 

[Chicken Mamma11]

It is not sufficient. You need B-complex with at least 50mg each of B-2, 6, and 12.

The baby made it through the night. I've given her the B complex vitamins in her water and even used a little syringe to give her some directly to make sure she's getting it. She's eating, drinking, chirping really loud and trying to walk. She can't put pressure on her left leg. I move it around and it seems okay. It has range of motion. She can grab my finger with her talons. Should I hobble her so she heals and doesn't make it worse?

 

[azygous]

I think you have a survivor! Good job! You've beat the odds. You should go buy a lottery ticket.

Grabbing with her talons is a very good sign that she has only localized injury. The B-vitamins should heal any damaged nerves in about four weeks. Keep up the B in the water until she's walking on the leg.

Hobbling won't do anything to help. The leg has likely been bruised. It hurts. Chickens won't walk on a leg that hurts. That's up to her. And you will see she will learn to get around just fine on one leg, but don't encourage her to use the leg. Staying off of it is better for it right now.

 

[Chicken Mamma11]

I think you have a survivor! Good job! You've beat the odds. You should go buy a lottery ticket.

Grabbing with her talons is a very good sign that she has only localized injury. The B-vitamins should heal any damaged nerves in about four weeks. Keep up the B in the water until she's walking on the leg.

Hobbling won't do anything to help. The leg has likely been bruised. It hurts. Chickens won't walk on a leg that hurts. That's up to her. And you will see she will learn to get around just fine on one leg, but don't encourage her to use the leg. Staying off of it is better for it right now.

Thank you! Should I continue to keep her separated from the other birds while she heals?

 

[azygous]

See how she does with the others. It's best to keep her with them unless they start picking on her. If that happens, maybe you can figure out how to rig a partition in the brooder with a scrap of window screen or hardware cloth so she can still be with them, but protected.

Being with other chicks is an important feature of a chick's development, from social to physical health and well being.