Brooder Fire. Need Advice.

whitutis

In the Brooder
10 Years
Apr 30, 2009
15
1
22
Hello. We fortunately caught our brooder fire this morning before the 8 chicks and 3 ducks in it were engulfed in flames. Everyone is in the bathroom now and waiting for the heater and shower to raise the temp to 80 degrees. Everyone is eating and drinking at will. The ducks are enjoying swimming in the cereal bowls of water.

What i need advice on is this: there seems to be some laboured breathing with the ducks. Any advice to help them? Also, one chick seems to be missing a toe on each foot...charred? What could i do for her besides watch? If chicks look like they have sunburned skin under feathers, what should been done for them?

Thanks,
Jenn
 
Wow, I had a coop fire before, luckally none of my birds were injured. They are most likely suffering from smoke inhallation, and I don't know much about treating that. As far as the missing toes, and reddened skin, I would watch for infection or put some neosporine that has no pain killer meds in it on them lightly. You could wrap around the toes you think got charred and put neosporine on them to ward off infection. Use VET WRAP it sticks to its self and not to feathers and scales, plus it is flexable. I wish you much luck!
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Hope they all pull through.
Mollie
 
Was your brooder made of sheeting or plywood? Some glues and additives in those materials can burn off and cause toxins in the smoke. In some areas of the US, it is illegal to burn any type of pressed wood.
 
Reurra...thank God we had the sense to buy a large metal trough (like they use for watering herds) as a brooder. So, after shovelling out pellet bedding, it was like washing out a frying pan that had burnt food. :)

I think most are suffering smoke inhalation. The chick with damaged toes has no remaining claw and is missing a digit in her toes, but no blood? She seems fine...will let me hold her...isn't peeping in pain or in shock. Besides mouth breathing, everyone's just sleeping, eating, drinking, and scatting. We'll see what the next 12 to 36 hours bring.

I've put them back in the brooder under the light. Added an electrolyte solution to their water, picked up some medicated feed, and fed them 2 cooked egg yolks. Thinking of giving them some yoghurt tonight.

Thanks for the ideas. Aloe is definately worth a try and neosporin is in the waiting. I really appreciate the time you took to respond.
 

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