Chick with probable broken ribs

[Ariel301]

Today while I was giving my 3 week old chicks some time out in their outside run to start acclimating them to outside, I accidentally tripped over a group of them that swarmed my feet and started pecking my bare toes. I crushed one when I fell and it died instantly, and now another has turned up several hours later that seems to be in obvious distress. I am not sure if I hurt this one or what, but it is panting a little, and just sort of 'off'. We put it in a small 'emergency' brooder by itself. I was feeling it over, and don't see any blood or wounds, its legs and wings work fine and it can see and walk around ok. However, when I was gently feeling its body, it seemed like half the ribcage sort of collapsed inwards under any pressure. I felt a normal chick and it is definitely not the same. I am assuming it is broken. I can't tell how badly; I don't want to touch it more and cause the poor little guy any extra pain.

I wanted my husband to put it down so it won't suffer, but he can't bring himself to euthanize such a cute little thing. Neither can I. He wants to see if we can save it, though I don't think it can be done. It is now standing up normally in the brooder and chirping, moving around some. What are the chances of a chick surviving anything like this? Is there anything I can do to help it out, or is it just a 'wait and see' sort of situation?

 

[dawg53]

What a tough call this is for you! My thinking is that if the chick is running around eating,drinking,chirping and pooping normal; I'd say give it a chance. Keep an eye on her poop if there's any blood in it, then I'd cull. Also,if it's ribs were broken, I dont think it'd be able to chirp and it would have difficulty breathing. All I can say is keep an eye on the chick and if it shows it's health declining,cull.

 

[Ariel301]

I haven't seen it poop yet, but it definitely isn't quite normal. It's pretty lethargic. It had trouble for about an hour with not being able to stand up well, then it got up and moved around a little, chirped and cried for its friends, and now it's just sort of laying around again. It is panting on and off like it has some breathing trouble. I sure hope the poor little thing makes it. I feel awful for accidentally hurting my babies.

 

[Karen_at_LittleBrook]

The ribs are there for that very reason... to take the impact and injury to protect the major organs & systems. I agree that if the chick is breathing ok, eating, drinking etc. than the ribs did their job! You should give it/the ribs time to heal. I would guess that as with most very young creatures, their bones are still pretty plyable, and she just might be okay! I hope she recovers for you

 

[Ariel301]

Well, good news! I don't think I broke anything serious at least on the chick. After a few hours under a heat lamp and getting some fluids in it, it came right back to life. I went to check on it, and it was running in circles peeping its head off, so I sat it down in the brooder with the others. It ran right into the dogpile around the food dish and started beating on the others to get the best pieces of food. So, it looks like everything is ok. It is the littlest chick we have, but so feisty! This little banty chick even picks on the broilers which are four times its size! I'm glad to see it back to normal.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Okay, this thread is old but I have a chicken with a broken rib, I think. She is still eating and drinking normally, is there anything I can do? She cannot fly, she always comes up short when trying to jump on the roost.

 

[pipAchick]

Today while I was giving my 3 week old chicks some time out in their outside run to start acclimating them to outside, I accidentally tripped over a group of them that swarmed my feet and started pecking my bare toes. I crushed one when I fell and it died instantly, and now another has turned up several hours later that seems to be in obvious distress. I am not sure if I hurt this one or what, but it is panting a little, and just sort of 'off'. We put it in a small 'emergency' brooder by itself. I was feeling it over, and don't see any blood or wounds, its legs and wings work fine and it can see and walk around ok. However, when I was gently feeling its body, it seemed like half the ribcage sort of collapsed inwards under any pressure. I felt a normal chick and it is definitely not the same. I am assuming it is broken. I can't tell how badly; I don't want to touch it more and cause the poor little guy any extra pain.


I wanted my husband to put it down so it won't suffer, but he can't bring himself to euthanize such a cute little thing. Neither can I. He wants to see if we can save it, though I don't think it can be done. It is now standing up normally in the brooder and chirping, moving around some. What are the chances of a chick surviving anything like this? Is there anything I can do to help it out, or is it just a 'wait and see' sort of situation?

Had something similar happen once. If you keep it calm&safe from further injury it might make it? Make sure it can reach water&food without you having to help too much. Keep its rear clean if it can't itself. If it's panting its either from pain&panic or because it's too hot.
Really really hope it makes it!
Sounds like a cruddy day,hang in there.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Okay.. Uh.. The post you quoted was from 6 years ago.
I gave my hen (muffin) a bath (because she had mites) and she is now in a new, clean cage by herself so she can heal and hopefully feel much better without the mites crawling all over her. (She was the only one with mites) and this way she won't have to compete for food, she seems to want to stay on her roost all day, and her poops are very tiny. She is drinking and she is eating a little.