Brain damaged chick? *sad update*

[jessiegumby]

At the begining of May I was asked to donate a couple of eggs to a local science class. I warned them that there might not be enough time for the chicks to hatch. School let out on Friday and the teacher sent the eggs home with a child. I got a panicked call very early Saturday morning one of the chicks had hatched and they had no idea how to take care of it. When the mother came to drop off the chick and the second unhatched egg (candled it and it was a "dud") she told me her son had stayed awake all night "helping" the chick hatch. I am not sure what "helping" consisted of. The chick does have a small round/ thick scab on his belly. I do have experience hand raising chicks but I have never had one like this. Chick is 3 days old and can stand but not really walk. The long toe on left foot is still curled under. Will not stay awake longer than a few seconds at a time. This chick is HUGE weighs the same as our chicks that hatched 2 weeks ago! His butt is so big that when he trys to sit he just tips over and then he can't get up. I have him in a fish tank in the house. I lined a big coffee cup with a washcloth and prop him up in it so he won't end up on his back while unattended. I have been able to get water in him but I think it is a reflex. I have had chicken and chicks for 9 years now and all our other chicks were up and running around within hour and with in days could feed and water themselfs. Can a chicken be brain damaged?

 

[sammi]

the "helping" the chick to hatch didn't help.

try and dip the beak in water..a little sugar in the water might help perk him up..
if unable to drink..give by drops on beak.

if you can get some chick vitamins, that might help..
or Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins from any pharmacy..Enfamil brand if possible..no iron..
give 2 drops on beak once a day for a week, the 1 drop for a week.
hopefully the B vitamins in the liquid will perk him up and help uncurl the toe..tho a soft splint wouldn't hurt.

in the meantime try and get some chick vits.

sometimes chicks that have been "helped" to hatch don't do well.
could also have been a brooder problem..
most likely a people problem..
but this one needs some nutrition quick..maybe a little egg..
but definitely the vitamins..

I don't know why the chick is so big..
could it just be a big breed?
can you post a pic?

how does the belly look?

others here with more chick experience might have suggestions.

 

[Lolliegee]

I don't have any advice for you, but I'll sure be curious to see what others say. Good luck with your chick.

 

[jessiegumby]

How do I post the pictures?

 

[jessiegumby]

I have to work early tomorrow but if you will leave instructions about how to post the pictures I will try to get them on when I get home.

 

[ChickenDreamer]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=504

this gives instructions for uploading pictures.

 

[jessiegumby]

This is the big chicky. At 3 days old he weighs as much as our 2 week old chicks. By the way I tried the sugar water and he seemed to drink a little more. I will get the vita sol tomorrow.

 

[jessiegumby]

 

[jessiegumby]

This is the wound on his/her bum. Is it from the kid pulling off his shell? Or is this part of the yolk sac?

 

[California Ducken]

Ditto to what sammi said!!! When I first joined BYC, I had a similar problem. "If" the chick absorbed it's yoke then a few days without food is fine, (mine went almost 6 days!) but was drinking drops of electrolyte water from my fingernail.
Medicated chick starter, they also told me all of what sammi said as well.
If it was peeled out by a curious child, well it's premature. You are where I was 5 weeks ago.
I did things a tiny bit different with food, I had to use Exact baby bird food. I had to put a tiny drop on the end of the beak,(careful of the nostrils) and it was a slow tedious process, but they are happy and healthy. I needed to get the little ones nutrition so they could develop. Premature chicks require a bit more care at first, but mine are doing great now!! They just have to finish developing.(outside the egg).
Good Luck!
Here are mine 5 weeks ago.