Chick buried alive by aggressive hen, not opening one eye

[talkinboutchickens]

Hi!
Yesterday I noticed that Phyllis, mom of 2, was being aggressive and violent towards Rose's 2 chicks (maybe she saw them as a threat????) Apparently later that day I couldn't find one of the chicks and initially thought it slipped out of the bottom of the run. But I covered all the spaces where it could get out.
After lots of looking I saw some chick down sticking out of the ground. I lifted him up. His entire neck and head were buried as well as his legs. It was very limp like a dead chick but was breathing. Brought him inside and flushed out his eyes with water since dirt was in between his eyelids. He was filthy!
I brought it under a heat lamp (he is still only 2 days old.)
This morning he is up and active and walking around the brooder. But there is 1 problem. He isn't opening one of it's eyes. Is this temporary or will he turn into a special needs chicken?? Maybe there is just a cut? Should I put anything on it?

Thanks!

 

[FrostRanger]

Can you post some pictures? Hens can see another hen's chicks as competition for resources for their own chicks so you might be right about that. I'd separate Phyllis and her chicks in a place where they can see and be seen by the flock but can't touch. It's possible that she pecked the chick's eye. I'd flush the eye out with saline for now

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree that washing the eye with some saline or even water to flush any debris out of the eye would be good. Saline is simply a cup of water with a 1/2 tsp of salt dissolved in it to equal the ph of the body, so it doesn’t burn or damage tissue. Boil it to sterilize it and store it in a cool container when cool. Look for any dirt or bedding in the eye. Terramycin or plain Neosporin/triple antibiotic ointment are fine to use in the eye.

Other hens will kill baby chicks of other hens, so make sure the broody is protecting her chicks. I keep mine separated for the first few days in a dog crate with food/water, opening it the second day for the broody to take chicks out to find food and water, to roam, and then return to for their protection.

 

[WoDia]

Hi!
Yesterday I noticed that Phyllis, mom of 2, was being aggressive and violent towards Rose's 2 chicks (maybe she saw them as a threat????) Apparently later that day I couldn't find one of the chicks and initially thought it slipped out of the bottom of the run. But I covered all the spaces where it could get out.
After lots of looking I saw some chick down sticking out of the ground. I lifted him up. His entire neck and head were buried as well as his legs. It was very limp like a dead chick but was breathing. Brought him inside and flushed out his eyes with water since dirt was in between his eyelids. He was filthy!
I brought it under a heat lamp (he is still only 2 days old.)
This morning he is up and active and walking around the brooder. But there is 1 problem. He isn't opening one of it's eyes. Is this temporary or will he turn into a special needs chicken?? Maybe there is just a cut? Should I put anything on it?

Thanks!

I’m glad that Frankie is doing a lot better. @Eggcessive gave you great advice. You can consider removing Rose and the chicks, since Phyllis is on a rampage. If she can’t protect them, it may happen again. I’ve always kept my moms and chicks away from the flocks to eliminate the risk of attacks. Many members are successful with allowing a broody raise her chicks with their flock (I’m sure you have as well). I hope that Frankie’s eye heals soon.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I agree that washing the eye with some saline or even water to flush any debris out of the eye would be good. Saline is simply a cup of water with a 1/2 tsp of salt dissolved in it to equal the ph of the body, so it doesn’t burn or damage tissue. Boil it to sterilize it and store it in a cool container when cool. Look for any dirt or bedding in the eye. Terramycin or plain Neosporin/triple antibiotic ointment are fine to use in the eye.

Other hens will kill baby chicks of other hens, so make sure the broody is protecting her chicks. I keep mine separated for the first few days in a dog crate with food/water, opening it the second day for the broody to take chicks out to find food and water, to roam, and then return to for their protection.

Best advice ever . I have no roo so got eggs from friend to put in broody she hatched 1 out of 5 then it got killed by others . I wish I'd known to separate them.

 

[Eggcessive]

Best advice ever . I have no roo so got eggs from friend to put in broody she hatched 1 out of 5 then it got killed by others . I wish I'd known to separate them.

Sorry that you lost your only chick. Each situation is different. I always spend a lot of time when eggs are hatching. I prefer to let the broody hatch and raise the chicks among the rest of the flock, so the new ones are soon part of the flock. One broody abandoned her chicks after 2 weeks, but since she had them out and about, the others had already accepted them. But I had to remove chicks from one of my favorite hens once, since she was pecking and hurting her chicks. It is always good to give the broody a day or two to finish hatching other eggs, but after that, she needs to get out with the chicks to show them around. I have had 2 broodies at once who hatched together, but that does not work out so well if one tries to hurt the other chicks, or she wants to steal the other chicks. I had to break one broody and give her co- broody the rest of the chicks, because she was careless, and let her chicks get away. No case is ever the same.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Hey everyone,
good news, Frankie's eye is opening up. But we have a new problem. He's letting his wings droop very low to the ground. I hope he is not injured and it's just because he is weak.
We had to bring another chick named Fred in with Frankie because Fred is having trouble walking and keeping up with his mama. Even though he is the newest arrival out of all of them, newborn chicks always know how to walk within one day in my experience. He was born yesterday night. Fred hobbles around everywhere instead of walking and that's why we separated him from the others was because he couldn't catch up to mama and he can't run from other broody hens.
Thanks for the suggestions, I separated Phyllis and Patricia and Pringle from the rest into a different coop. If Phyllis was still in with the other broodies and the other chicks Fred wouldn't have a chance. He would be a goner for sure.

Thanks so much guys! I'm so glad I joined this helpful, kind community