Broken (we think) wing on a 5 day old quail chick, I'm not sure what to do for treatment!

TrueArrow08

In the Brooder
Jul 17, 2025
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24
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We check on our little brooder every 30 minutes ish, and yesterday we found that a chick was holding her wing strangely and her feathers had been pulled out or twisted in a few spots. We immediately took her out of the brooder and held her to make sure she didn't get picked on, but I'm not sure whether I should wrap her wing to her body or give her anything for infections.
We washed the wing in hydrogen peroxide and dabbed a bit of Neosporin on it, then put her in a little section away from the rest but still warm enough for her to be comfortable. She did start screaming for her friends so we put the youngest of the lot in with her and they've both been pretty happy together.
The injured on eats, drinks (we put electrolites and probiotics in her water) and jumps around a lot, just can't move her wing well, which is hanging a little lower than her uninjured one.
Not sure whether we should wrap her wing to her body because she's so young and I'm worried it might get in the way of her growth in some way but I REALLY don't want it to get infected!
Sorry for long post, any help and or pointer as to what I can do better are appreciated.
 
Do you have photos?

Is the skin broken, any bone sticking out?
I have this photo, which is from after we got some Neosporin on it so it looks wet. I can attach a few more if I can get any where you can actually see the wing base.
There is not bone sticking out, and I think (can't tell from the way her skin and feathers are situated) the only blood came from feathers that were pulled out. I washed those areas extra with water and hydrogen peroxide. I did notice that she has a little greenish patch of skin - almost looks like a blister, at her wing "elbow", so I washed and dabbed ointment on that specifially as I'm worried about an infection. But she smells like nothing after an entire day of hanging out in the brooder so I'm not sure what it could be -- maybe there's poor blood flow?
 

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I could be overreacting a little about this, just worried about her suffering from an infection or some other affliction in the near future... 😭
 
Here is another image of her wing today, she looks tired in the picture but she still has a high energy level.
 

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I washed those areas extra with water and hydrogen peroxide. I did notice that she has a little greenish patch of skin - almost looks like a blister, at her wing "elbow", so I washed and dabbed ointment on that specifially as I'm worried about an infection.
Was she attacked by something?

I'd keep it cleaned and the ointment on it. Peroxide was o.k. for the initial cleaning, but it would be better going forward to clean with Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine) or Povidone Iodine.

Any bad odors?

If you can get some well-lit photos of the green and the skin that may help.

Do you happen to have any antibiotics on hand?
 
Was she attacked by something?

I'd keep it cleaned and the ointment on it. Peroxide was o.k. for the initial cleaning, but it would be better going forward to clean with Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine) or Povidone Iodine.

Any bad odors?

If you can get some well-lit photos of the green and the skin that may help.

Do you happen to have any antibiotics on hand?
We're not certain - I'm pretty sure that her wing got caught on something and the twisted it around, but that doesn't explain the feathers. It was strange as we check on them *very* often and this just happened within an hour.
Okay, I keep cleaning with peroxide - I'll switch to chlorhexidine immediately.
No bad odors that I can tell, smelled the tiniest hint of something sour the day after it happened but it doesn't smell like anything now after washing it twice.
Just checked her wing again and the green spot has gotten a lot smaller. I'm hopeing it's a scab or something of the sort.
I do not have any antibiotics on hand, although I'm prepared to go and buy some if I ever do need to.
She is stretching her wings and is able to move both of them, although the injured one does not move as high as the uninjured one.
 
We're not certain - I'm pretty sure that her wing got caught on something and the twisted it around, but that doesn't explain the feathers. It was strange as we check on them *very* often and this just happened within an hour.
Okay, I keep cleaning with peroxide - I'll switch to chlorhexidine immediately.
No bad odors that I can tell, smelled the tiniest hint of something sour the day after it happened but it doesn't smell like anything now after washing it twice.
Just checked her wing again and the green spot has gotten a lot smaller. I'm hopeing it's a scab or something of the sort.
I do not have any antibiotics on hand, although I'm prepared to go and buy some if I ever do need to.
She is stretching her wings and is able to move both of them, although the injured one does not move as high as the uninjured one.

How many times do you recommend I wash her wing?
I would just clean it once daily for a few days with the Chlorhexidine, keep a thin layer of your triple antibiotic ointment on it to keep it moist.

Don't wrap since she's able to move both wings. You really want to keep the wound uncovered if possible, so it gets air.

Since the green spot is getting smaller, likely that's bruising.
 

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