Broody Pecked Hole in Newly Hatched Chick's Neck!

[thailand]

Hi, I need some quick help please to save a Polish chick. I've filled in the emergency form below:

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) Polish chick, hatched about 3 hours ago.
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Broody hen pecked a deep hole in the chick's neck.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 2 hours.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? Same mother pecked a tiny hole at the base of another newly hatched chick's tail. Both chicks now removed from hen are inside in a tote with food/water and a heat lamp.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. Initially bleeding profusely. Hole seems really deep. Still bleeding a little, but has slowed down. There is a chunk of missing and/or flapping skin around the area.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. First-time broody hen.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Nothing as yet.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Nothing passed yet.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Doused with Betadine, including filling the gaping hole in the neck. Then administered an enormous amount of Triple Anitibiotic ointment to cover the entire area well. Next applied an elastoplast around the neck to help stop the bleeding and also to protect the area. The two chicks are in an area together and so far there has been no pecking between them. Both are only hours old.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? I need to completely treat the chick myself.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. I will attach a photo of the chick asap.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use Paper towels in the bottom of the tote brooder.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Wow. That does look deep.

That bandaid is going to be the very devil to get out of chick fluff. Maybe buy some Red/Blu-Kote and use that instead. Rehydration is important in the case of blood-loss. I'd get them on vitamin water as quickly as possible. Do you have chick vitamins?

You will also have to keep an eye on the chicks because your suspicions are right--sometimes, they will begin pecking at each other. It's less likely in small groups, though.

Does she have any other eggs under her? If so, maybe separate them and hatch them in a bowl under the heat lamp with a damp towel over the top for humidity. Better than letting her hatch them out, if this is an accurate sample of her mothering skills.

Other than that, it sounds like you've done about all you can. Chicks are pretty hardy to this sort of thing--they recover quickly if they do recover. I've had this happen before with a hen. Her chicks all made it, but she did it with the next batch too. I wouldn't let her hatch chicks again.

Good luck.

 

[dawg53]

I believe you've done all you can for the injured chicks. It will be necessary for you to ensure both chicks are fed and provided water as often as possible in order to maintain their strength especially the chick that was pecked on the back of the neck, a liquid vitamin supplement would be best for her until she gains strength. She may or may not live. I dont recommend Blue/Red Kote in this instance, it contains alcohol and will surely burn the injured chicks. Continue with the Triple antibiotic ointment as necessary until healed.
Also, immediately remove any other hatched chicks away from your broody hen, she might injure them as well.

 

[chickens really]

That's not good. This must be her first hatch I assume?
May I ask if you have been interfering at all during the hatching process? Hens like feeling secure and private and in a bit of darkness as the Chicks hatch.

 

[thailand]

Thanks for your reply. I've removed the band-aid as per your advice. I had some Genetian Violet (I think it's similar to Blue kote??) on hand, so I've smothered things with that.

There were two broody silky hens sharing the nest, but I've now removed all the remaining eggs and shared them amongst my other three broody silkies.

I've attached a photo below of the new treatment as you suggested. Does this look like it'll be ok? While the wounds don't look too nice, the chick is very lively, chirping, moving about as normal. She's pecked a bit at food and had a drink.

In the foreground you can see the pecked butt of the 2nd chick to hatch under the same silky hens.

Many thanks

 

[thailand]

Dawg...thanks so much for seeing my post. Aaargh!! But I saw it only AFTER I had put the venetian violet on the chick! Have I seriously made things a whole lot worse now??
I'll get onto the vitamin water asap.

Chickens really...I did check under the broody hens just a wee bit to see if anything had hatched yet, but only once

 

[chickens really]

Dawg...thanks so much for seeing my post. Aaargh!! But I saw it only AFTER I had put the venetian violet on the chick! Have I seriously made things a whole lot worse now??
I'll get onto the vitamin water asap.

Chickens really...I did check under the broody hens just a wee bit to see if anything had hatched yet, but only once

I believe the issue was the two together hatching..Never allow two hens to hatch Chicks together.

 

[dawg53]

Dawg...thanks so much for seeing my post. Aaargh!! But I saw it only AFTER I had put the venetian violet on the chick! Have I seriously made things a whole lot worse now??
I'll get onto the vitamin water asap.

Chickens really...I did check under the broody hens just a wee bit to see if anything had hatched yet, but only once

What's done is done. Continue with the Triple antibiotic.