Chick with tear under vent- **Update**

[ChooksChick]

Well, after more cleaning, more soaking, etc, I'm finding enough poo is getting out to lessen the pressure, but she's not growing as fast as the others- despite eating and drinking well.

I have her in with one other chick, next to the box full of others. They have a fleece liner in there, and I've created a little drape they like to run under like they would Mom- I've always rigged a little fleece or fake fur up like this- makes ME feel better, anyway...they seem to love it!

There's also one of those little chicks you can get at Easter time that is made with fake fur that peeps if you touch two contacts on the bottom- they like pecking at its eyes!

I called around and tried to get some advice, and I'm pretty much given the same answer- chick wasn't made right, and therefore, let it go. I'm just not capable of doing that yet! It jumps, for Pete's sakes!

I'll keep working with it- I am thinking of using something to open up the vent some, but I'm terrified I'll hurt it more and have to hastily euthanize it...that would scar me for life. I'm still cringing from making my daughter bleed when I trimmed her fingernails as an infant...and she's nearly 14 now.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
I stuck my oldest daughter with a diaper pin when she was a little thing, and i am just like you, can't stand to think about it without cringing and tearing up. . .and I had four more after her!!! Hope your little chick is better, that sounds sort of serious, and I know how you would feel if you had to put him down. . .good luck!!!

 

[Judy]

I used to trim my son's nails before all visits with his father, because he would invariably cut too close if I left him anything to cut. I'd cut his hair for the same reason, to avoid hearing the tearful story of the mean barber who only did razor cuts. And any of us who have used cloth diapers, as I also did, have stuck the poor kid, I suspect.

You just have to deal with the circumstances you created when you chose to have a child, or to own chickens.

OP, I am sorry you are having to deal with this. I'd probably try opening the vent a bit with a Q tip, since it is beginning to sound like this is the only real option. Often, in humans, the problem is simply a flimsy membrane that needs penetrating. Not always, but often.

 

[threehorses]

The chick wasn't made right yes, but I'm still with you and ddawn on this one.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
It's good to know this does happen with humans- honestly this little vent is too small even for a q-tip...I've found the skinniest, bluntest of my knitting needles and coated it with antibiotic ointment, tried to help the situation, but without using a bit of force and possibly puncturing something, I couldn't make a change...but it still is going, perky and whiney, but still here. I'm just not even sure what to do but keep waiting for some situation that is blatant- it's just not distressed enough...simply a tad uncomfy sometimes.

It's just so unclear!!!

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Checking in for an update on how the little darling is doing?

 

[ChooksChick]

Well, she's still with us, but her rear end is constantly soaked from leakage, and I have tried several times to assist her vent use (it's leaking just the smallest amount of liquid and urates) with a Q-tip and KY- vet said not to use antibiotic because one wouldn't want to change the bacteria in her gut.

It hasn't assisted at all. She's still eating and drinking and hopping around, but she's half the size of her peers. She's also very vocal, sometimes just talkative, sometimes very plaintive. I nearly culled her twice yesterday. I ought to have done it because I am unable to do it myself, and my husband is at work until mid-afternoon.

I'm resolved now it must be done, but it's sooooooooo hard to say it must be done NOW.

I'm fairly pathetic, because I'm tooooooo empathetic. It's worse for the poor baby, because I've made it wait this long.

 

[tomato lady]

So sorry about your little chick. I have never had to cull a chick or chicken, but I am sure it would be almost impossible for me to do, even if I knew it had to be done. I once had a half grown pig that broke his leg. I fixed the pig a big pot of piggy stew (leftovers cooked in water with a big handful of cracked corn), then I called "the man". When his truck pulled into the driveway my unreasonable and empathtic side thought, "I can save that pig, I know I can." Even while I was thinking that I knew it wasn't true.

You have given this chick lots of care and enough time to know things just aren't right inside. My thoughts are with you today.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
That's just it!! I keep thinking something will fix itself...but today I noticed something new- won't go into it, but it's just not right. It's seeking a much warmer spot than everyone else, so I imagine it has a fever...I'm hoping hubby wil come home early since we've had nearly 2 inches of rain (golf course superintendent) so I don't scar myself for life...

 

[Critter Crazed]

I'm *really* sorry you have to go through this.

Don't think you put the chick through anything. You tried to give it life but Mother Nature doesn't want it to have life for some reason. You tried your very best. I'm a first time chicken owner and I've never had to deal with a serious situation like that (thank goodness) so I wouldn't know if you should cull or not. I know I would NEVER be able to.

I just wanted to say sorry, to give you a hug

, and to say good job for trying that hard to save a chick's life.