ADVICE PLEASE Stood on a chick and guts came out

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

So I had two chicks: Lazarus and this one, Mascot. Lazarus died of pasty butt last night. They both lived with my 5 week old Orpingtons, all very happy and getting along.

Every day I take out the little Orpingtons outside and leave Lazarus and Mascot in there. But since Lazarus died last night mascot was peeping ver loudly, lonely. My brother and I were building a rail fence for adocking pen, so I took her down there..

For three hours ym brother and I made half of the fence with Mascot running around. I put her in my shirt pocket when she got cold.

I was bending a rail around a post when my brother yelled my name and pointed down at my foot. I looked down in horror at Mascot. I had stood on her and her guts were out.

I took her inside immediately. I got a needle and thread, pushed the guts back inside after cleaning them well and stitched it up.It was fascinating (and a bit scary) to see how everything worked inside — I think I saw the gizzard, intestines, and part of the liver. I did a bit of research and have her in my room, giving her water with sugar, a coupel grains of salt and a couple of baking soda. I also put antiseptic on it an hour ago and just now. She had crackling breath but it has died down a lot ChatGPT told me it was a bruised lung. She is walking happily under the heat plate, very clumsily though.

BUT(yes there is a but)... her innards came out. The abdominal wall had a small tear — the organs weren’t ruptured, just pushed out. I put them back in carefully and stitched both the inner layer and skin together.

Is there any chance of infection? Her innards were not ruptured or anything they just popped out. Should I put her down? She onlyseems to be in pain when I put the antiseptic on. It is not bleeding or anything it looks worse than it is ebcause the antiseptic is red. She is breathing with her mouth open sometimes but mostly with it shut.

If you don't know if I am getting anything right/wrong, or if you don't know if I should put her down please tag somebody who you think would. If you do know what to do please reply.

Thanks! For some reason I am not panicking probably because she is doing so well I will attatch a picture, I’ll upload a photo later when I can use a better camera, my computer one isn't great.

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

Any pictures?
@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

Nope no pictures. Like I said my camera on my computer is bad and I don't want her on my keyboard my mother should be back soon with her phone then I can use that

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

Nope no pictures. Like I said my camera on my computer is bad and I don't want her on my keyboard my mother should be back soon with her phone then I can use that

Ok I would clean it with Vetericyn.
Keep in warm dry location until the people I tagged can help.

 

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

What is Vetericyn?

 

[tlcmurphy]

Please put the chick down, she is suffering and can not survive being stepped on.
@azygous

 

[Three Stents]

Please put the chick down, she is suffering and can not survive being stepped on.
@azygous

I agree

 

[azygous]

Is this squashed chick running around acting normal? It's hard to imagine a chick behaving normally after being squashed hard enough to expel the abdominal contents.

Therefore, unless the chick is miraculously behaving as if nothing had happened, the best solution is to end the chick's suffering. Take scissors and snip off the head. It will be a quick painless end. If you can't handle looking as you sever the head, wrap it in a paper towel first and then cut.

 

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

Is this squashed chick running around acting normal? It's hard to imagine a chick behaving normally after being squashed hard enough to expel the abdominal contents.

Therefore, unless the chick is miraculously behaving as if nothing had happened, the best solution is to end the chick's suffering. Take scissors and snip off the head. It will be a quick painless end. If you can't handle looking as you sever the head, wrap it in a paper towel first and then cut.

Thanks, @azygous — I really appreciate your honesty. I know most chicks don’t make it after something like this, but Mascot’s surprising me. She’s alert, drinking, and walking around clumsily but steadily. No bleeding, no smell, and her breathing’s improving. If she starts to suffer, I’ll do the right thing — but for now she’s still fighting, so I’m giving her the chance.

 

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. I completely understand where you’re coming from — I know sometimes the kindest choice is to put a chick down. But Mascot’s alert, moving, drinking electrolytes, Betadine, and doing much better than I expected. I just want to give her the best chance while she’s still fighting.


If anyone’s had experience treating a chick with an abdominal injury or surgery-type recovery, I’d love advice on:
• How to clean and care for the wound over the next few days
• Signs of infection to watch for early on
• Safe topical treatments or antibiotics that might help
• How long to leave the stitches in before removal


She’s warm, dry, stitched, and isolated, and I’ll monitor her closely. Please share any practical recovery tips you’ve learned — I really appreciate it.