Chick with injury from hawk - help

[SunnyFLChick]

Help! A red shouldered hawk just got one of my chicks and injured another.

The injured one has a what looks like a bare patch that is bloody on her back. She was hiding under the other chicks and seems a bit "shocky" to me. Chick is approximately 3 weeks old. Will try to get a picture if that will help.

Should I isolate? What further first aid should be done?

 

[SunnyFLChick]

Chick is eating (treats) well and responds to me. Still curious and pecking at new objects.

I cleaned the wound with warm water and put antibiotic cream on. She is isolated with food and water under a heat lamp.

Anything else?

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[One Chick Two]

It's great that your chick was saved.

You probably should isolate so her wound does not get pecked on by the others. Putting her in a small cage with the others is a good way to make sure she reintegrates well again with the other chicks.

Also, make sure the ointment does not have any "caine" ingredients, as they are bad for chickens.

When she becomes a bit better, and the wound is not deep, you could apply some blue cote, as the color helps to hide the wound. It stains, so wear gloves. Good luck!

 

[SunnyFLChick]

Thank you One Chick Two! I will check the "caine" ingredients, I didn't know that!

Another chick ( I had 6 - now 5) seems to be having some issues as well. NO signs of injury but she is staying in one place in the brooder. If the others are there she is happy to pile up with them but if they move away to eat she stays by herself. She can walk fine just doesn't seem interested in much. I have not seen her eat or drink, unlike the injured one. Should I be worried? Or was it just an upsetting morning?

 

[One Chick Two]

Thank you One Chick Two! I will check the "caine" ingredients, I didn't know that!

Another chick ( I had 6 - now 5) seems to be having some issues as well. NO signs of injury but she is staying in one place in the brooder. If the others are there she is happy to pile up with them but if they move away to eat she stays by herself. She can walk fine just doesn't seem interested in much. I have not seen her eat or drink, unlike the injured one. Should I be worried? Or was it just an upsetting morning?

Hopefully your injured chick is coming along nicely! They do heal up pretty quickly, so hopefully this wound wasn't too deep.

Your other chick, the one isolating herself... you may want to dip her beak in water, and perhaps try a little bit of moistened starter in a mash-like texture to tempt her to eat and drink. I would even think about a little bit of scrambled egg with a tiny bit of yogurt.

If she still refuses to eat and drink, she may eventually pass away if nothing is done. You can also give her a dropperful of lightly sugared water, or Sav-a-Chick. Hopefully she is feeling better!

 

[SunnyFLChick]

Thank you again for the info! She did go for the mash with a bit of yogurt mixed in so that was encouraging. I have her in isolation with the injured one with a heat lamp. The injured one seems to be doing really well so far. Eating and drinking, taking treats and bright eyed and active. We'll see, I don't want to get my hopes up too high. You never know with chickens.

I really appreciate all the info and support!

 

[SunnyFLChick]

Well, despite my best efforts the other chick (isolating herself) gave up early yesterday.

The injured one is healing great. I have kept her separate but in a cage right next to the others. At what point can she go back in with them? Especially now that the other one is gone and she is alone she would really rather be back with the group. I will clean her up this morning and get an updated picture.


Here it is about 72 hours after the attack.


Feathers are greasy from the antibiotic ointment. How do I clean that up?

Think she's ready to go back with the others?

 

[SunnyFLChick]

Think she's ready to go back with the others?

The answer was no. I put her back in with the others today under partial supervision. One of the others (I suspect it's a rooster) picked at her and opened it back up. So, next question. How do I reintroduce this chick? She has been isolated but in a cage right next to the brooder so they've had visual and never been fully separated.

 

[One Chick Two]

The answer was no. I put her back in with the others today under partial supervision. One of the others (I suspect it's a rooster) picked at her and opened it back up. So, next question. How do I reintroduce this chick? She has been isolated but in a cage right next to the brooder so they've had visual and never been fully separated.

So sorry for your loss! The chick won't be ready to be reintroduced until that scab is completely gone. If you had put on some blue cote, the other chicken probably would not have pecked t the wound as it wouldn't have been red anymore, and chickens are very drawn to the color red. Before you reintroduce the one, add another docile chick in with this chick for a few days, so when they get reintroduced there is two (or more) that get reintroduced, one does not get all the pecking order piunishments.

 

[SunnyFLChick]

So sorry for your loss! The chick won't be ready to be reintroduced until that scab is completely gone. If you had put on some blue cote, the other chicken probably would not have pecked t the wound as it wouldn't have been red anymore, and chickens are very drawn to the color red. Before you reintroduce the one, add another docile chick in with this chick for a few days, so when they get reintroduced there is two (or more) that get reintroduced, one does not get all the pecking order piunishments.

I should have asked, or done my research, about the blue cote. I assumed that it was for cosmetic purposes. I should have known better. I promise to follow your advice to a tee from here on out!

So, suggestions on where I can find the blue cote?

Thanks for the condolences. I know it is part of the chicken game but it's still upsetting.