Chick with possible umbilical hernia - need advise!

[klbaker75]

I’m honestly not too sure. This is my first time. However, I treated mine like it was an internal protrusion and it seems to be working. When she was first born it was still squishy. I separated her on day two. I put coconut oil on the mass for two days with a qtip to retain moisture. Coconut oil has antibacterial properties and isn’t harmful. On day 4 the mass was hard, dry and had shrunk about 1/3 of its size. This day I used a syringe with warm water and dawn dish soap then rinsed to remove the excess oil and get her fluffy again. (She was having issues with being cold) I did this again but with only warm water the next day. She has also been having issues with pasty butt so we have been having to clean that as well. I dabbed a rubbing alcohol and water solution around the mass to disinfect and she is doing great. She has regained the 5 grams she lost.

I had read if it was intestines that the intestines would dry out and the chick would die. I ended up unwrapping her bandage and wetting it to try and push up in there but I ended up just making her bleed. I reapplied more iodine and bandaged her again. I’ll try the coconut oil. How old is your chick? It sounds like what I have and you have given me hope.

 

[Kirstena]

I had read if it was intestines that the intestines would dry out and the chick would die. I ended up unwrapping her bandage and wetting it to try and push up in there but I ended up just making her bleed. I reapplied more iodine and bandaged her again. I’ll try the coconut oil. How old is your chick? It sounds like what I have and you have given me hope.

Does yours look similar to the photos of mine? Since there wasn’t any visible intestines, I have tried to just not touch it at all and let it heal best it can. Mine hasn’t had any blood, other then when she hatched. She is one week today, so we still aren’t out of the woods yet but she has regained her strength and is eating so I’m hoping for the best. Can you post a photo of your chick’s wound?

 

[Kirstena]

I had read if it was intestines that the intestines would dry out and the chick would die. I ended up unwrapping her bandage and wetting it to try and push up in there but I ended up just making her bleed. I reapplied more iodine and bandaged her again. I’ll try the coconut oil. How old is your chick? It sounds like what I have and you have given me hope.

 

[klbaker75]

Does yours look similar to the photos of mine? Since there wasn’t any visible intestines, I have tried to just not touch it at all and let it heal best it can. Mine hasn’t had any blood, other then when she hatched. She is one week today, so we still aren’t out of the woods yet but she has regained her strength and is eating so I’m hoping for the best. Can you post a photo of your chick’s wound?

Yes I think it looks a lot like that. Here it is today. It was more dried up until I tried to change the bandage and push it back in which was a mistake. I can’t get a bandage fitted properly again and even drove to down and nothing I bought works. if I leave it open it will bleed bc her feet kick it. I definitely can’t put her under the mama like this and was hoping to let her sleep under her tonight bc she responds so well to her mama.
Is your chick under a mama and did you bandage her at first?

 

[Kirstena]

Hmm. If her feet are kicking the wound I think there is more risk of her breaking skin and bleeding more. Do you have a heat lamp? Maybe a little isolation will do this baby good, make sure she doesn’t rip that skin. I do not have a broody hen, these babies were incubated and now live in my pockets 24/7 haha. I did not bandage anything, but also her feet were not touching it or else I might have. I would lay down some white paper towels in a box with feed and access to water and a heat lamp and let her heal. Mine has responded well to being in her own box next to the rest of the babies. Since we are all home she is getting lots of attention too. Also- the isolation let’s you monitor exactly how much she’s eating,drinking, and pooping. Sounds like you’re doing a great job. How old? Hang in there. Sending you happy thoughts, I hope they both pull through.

 

[klbaker75]

Hmm. If her feet are kicking the wound I think there is more risk of her breaking skin and bleeding more. Do you have a heat lamp? Maybe a little isolation will do this baby good, make sure she doesn’t rip that skin. I do not have a broody hen, these babies were incubated and now live in my pockets 24/7 haha. I did not bandage anything, but also her feet were not touching it or else I might have. I would lay down some white paper towels in a box with feed and access to water and a heat lamp and let her heal. Mine has responded well to being in her own box next to the rest of the babies. Since we are all home she is getting lots of attention too. Also- the isolation let’s you monitor exactly how much she’s eating,drinking, and pooping. Sounds like you’re doing a great job. How old? Hang in there. Sending you happy thoughts, I hope they both pull through.

I’m not sure she will make it. She is about 30 hours old now. Doesn’t open her eyes and hasn’t tried to eat or drink. Did your chick eat and drink at one day old?

 

[Kirstena]

I’m not sure she will make it. She is about 30 hours old now. Doesn’t open her eyes and hasn’t tried to eat or drink. Did your chick eat and drink at one day old?

At first she was eating and drinking, then became lethargic and chirping all the time , wouldn’t lay down but sleep standing up. I had to feed her with a syringe. At this same time I had another baby doing the same thing. She wouldn’t stand at all, awake, and alert but something was wrong. Sounds horrible, but I just knew she wasn’t going to pull though. We tried our best to makw her eat or drink and she wouldn’t . She passed in her sleep on her 2nd day with us. So I had one pull through and one not. No matter what happens, just know it’s not your fault and you did all you could to help this baby and it knows it’s loved and safe. That is a universal language.

 

[klbaker75]

At first she was eating and drinking, then became lethargic and chirping all the time , wouldn’t lay down but sleep standing up. I had to feed her with a syringe. At this same time I had another baby doing the same thing. She wouldn’t stand at all, awake, and alert but something was wrong. Sounds horrible, but I just knew she wasn’t going to pull though. We tried our best to makw her eat or drink and she wouldn’t . She passed in her sleep on her 2nd day with us. So I had one pull through and one not. No matter what happens, just know it’s not your fault and you did all you could to help this baby and it knows it’s loved and safe. That is a universal language.

Thank you! I hope your baby pulls through. I am at peace with this now. I know she isn’t going to make it. She’s under her mama and I expect she will pass tonight. I don’t want her to die alone. She’s right where she wants to be. I have tried everything and I think maybe there are other things going on. It’s so hard to tell. I have cried and cried but it’s not going to stop the inevitable. I’ll update when she passes.

 

[klbaker75]

Thank you! I hope your baby pulls through. I am at peace with this now. I know she isn’t going to make it. She’s under her mama and I expect she will pass tonight. I don’t want her to die alone. She’s right where she wants to be. I have tried everything and I think maybe there are other things going on. It’s so hard to tell. I have cried and cried but it’s not going to stop the inevitable. I’ll update when she passes.
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At first she was eating and drinking, then became lethargic and chirping all the time , wouldn’t lay down but sleep standing up. I had to feed her with a syringe. At this same time I had another baby doing the same thing. She wouldn’t stand at all, awake, and alert but something was wrong. Sounds horrible, but I just knew she wasn’t going to pull though. We tried our best to makw her eat or drink and she wouldn’t . She passed in her sleep on her 2nd day with us. So I had one pull through and one not. No matter what happens, just know it’s not your fault and you did all you could to help this baby and it knows it’s loved and safe. That is a universal language.

She is passing now. Good luck with your chick and thanks so much for being there for me today. It means more than you’ll ever know.

 

[Kirstena]

Of course. I felt your same pain. You did all you could and that little baby knew it. Sometimes we have to let go and let them return to the earth. Thank you for the update, it will get easier. Sending love from CA.