Chicks arrived in the mail, one is paralyzed!

[optycal]

We ordered 25 chicks from McMurray Hatchery, and they arrived today. One of the babies isn't well, though. She appears to be paralyzed--both legs and all her toes are bent and stiff. She gets around by flapping like a lunatic and sort of hobbling around. Concerned, I flipped her over and checked her legs--sure enough, they're rubbed raw and are oozing. It's obviously very painful for her, and I'm quite upset about this.

The other chicks were picking on her, so I'm sure they were just as mean on the trip through the mail, too. I separated her, and she's now in a 10 gallon aquarium inside the house. I gave her soft bedding and a shallow dish of food gel (so she doesn't drown in the water.) I'm using a "rice sock" to keep her warm, and I gave her a teddy bear to cuddle with--I know that sounds weird, but she quieted down right away when we tucked her in between the teddy's legs. We've named her Gimpy =P

Anyway, I'm a big softy and I can't stand the thought of this baby suffering. Any tips for us to help her be comfortable? I'd like to be optimistic and say she'll live if we help her out enough, but I know the chance of infection is really high. We'd at least like to TRY to help her if we can though!

 

[Jakoda]

poor baby!!! Do you have an avian vet around? A friend who knows chickens?? I think I'd take her to a pro to see if maybe they can do something about her legs/feet since she's pretty tiny..Hope she makes it!

 

[optycal]

No avian vet nearby, I'm afraid, and all my friends with chickens aren't quite as. . . motherly as I am with the chickens. I certainly don't hold that against them, I do tend to be a little soft around critters, but I'm pretty sure they'd all tell me the same thing. . . and I'm not willing to kill this baby just because she's different. Since I don't have anyone close by, I thought I'd try here!

I'm curious if I can use Neosporin ointment on her legs and wrap her up a little? I'm an AKC dog breeder (champion line Chinese Cresteds) and so I have a bunch of tiny medical supplies and decent veterinary training for canines. If Neosporin would be okay for this chick, I'd like to try wrapping her legs.

 

[Whispering_Raven]

I had a baby that had "cramped legs" when she arrived. I held her and I guess you could say I provided some physical therapy. She couldn't walk. Only flapped her wings and went in circles. She is a white cochin. I did not separate her since the others didn't seem to care one way or another because I was with them all time. After 4 days of gently massaging the legs, feeding her sugar water with droppers and laying a small planter bottom next to her filled with food, she started to get up. Wobbly and cockeyed, but after a couple more days of hobbling around she was jumping, running, and playing like nothing ever happened.

If you have a Co-Op or Tractor Supply Company near you I'd give them a call and ask them what you should do about the rawness of the baby's legs. I don't know about Neosporin. I would just keep the area clean and dry and not bandage it so the air can get to it and heal, but being so little, they are so susceptible to infection.....Definitely make the call and maybe they can provide a little direction.

I know this won't make you feel any better, but it's not uncommon to lose a few chicks from shipping stress. But I really DO hope you can save this little one.

Many Blessings to you!

Tracy


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[animallover505]

try wrapping the legs in band-aid or medi-wrap, with neosporin under it. It will help keep infecrion out.

 

[optycal]

When she cries, I go and pick her up and cuddle with her. She calms down right away, yay!

She loves her rice sock and burrows under it and snuggles with her teddy bear, too. I've helped her eat a few times. She seems to prefer straight water instead of the chick gel, so I've given her 1/4 inch of water in the lid of a food storage container. We decided to wrap her legs with some Neosporin since she was sitting in a puddle of poo when we took her out of the shipping box. She doesn't seem to mind the wraps, oddly enough. I think they're cushioning her a bit and making it easier for her to scoot around. I'm hopeful!

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It's nice to know I'm not the only one batty over these little critters =D

 

[animallover505]

She is so lucky you got her! A lot of people I know would have just killed her. She is a lucky little chicky!

 

[ImportTheBest]

Aww poor dear. I'm so glad she has such an attentive mommy though! Hope her condition improves and that she lives a long life with you

 

[Steeler Chick]

I too received my chicks from McMurry this morning and one of them has a leg issue. The one leg is tucked up against it's body. We are limping it along (no pun intended) and hope she makes it. Her legs look perfectly healthly not sores or anything she can move around but it is hard for her. No one is picking on her yet.

I am going to try the physically therapy idea and see if that helps. Right now other than kinda flopping around she is fine. She isn't crying or anything.

Thanks for input on this and glad there are other like minded caring people on BYC.

AmyT

 

[optycal]

Here's Gimpy's bandages

. My daughter was holding her for the procedure, and Gimpy let us know she wasn't pleased by pooping all over my daughter's hand, lol. Those little chicks can get some distance with that poo!