Dead 3 1/2 week old chick

[Jimagination]

I just heard a bunch of ruckus coming from the box the chicks are in and decided it was louder than usual so went to look. I found one of my pullets with its head twisted and in the waterer base. I quick grabbed it out and tried to checkit out. It spazzed as if having seizures and its head flopped. It kept opening its beak as if it was choking. I couldn't see anything in its throat. It spazzed some more and then died. I have no idea what happened. It was perfectly fine earlier, it was one of my bigger pullets and seemed completely normal. what could have happened? I don't think I am ready for this!

 

[MoonGoddess]

Oh no Jodi!
I wouldn't have the faintest clue what happened, but I'm very sorry that it did happen.

:

 

[CarriBrown]

I'm sorry to hear about your little one.

 

[MTchick]

Poor little chick! And poor you for having that happen!

This is a wild guess, but is it possible that the chick accidentally wedged its beak under the edge of the waterer and then got really panicked? Something like; another chick startled it or stepped on it while the victim chick was drinking water, the victim chick jerked its head awkwardly and got stuck, and then the resulting commotion and panic made its neck twist too far and that killed it. This is just a thought, but it occurred to me that the rolled edge of my metal chick waterer could conceivably allow something like a chick's beak to get temporarily snagged.

Again- how terrible. I hope the rest of your chick raising experience is wonderful.

-MTchick

 

[Jimagination]

We were thinking it was something like that, but we don't know. It was horrible. All the other chicks are fine. My first casualty. I didn't take it well. My husband, of course, said..."I thought you wanted to live on a farm. This is farm life!" As sarcastically as he could. What a jerk! Oh well, he then barried her for me at 9pm and spent the next 2 hours driving around looking for a new box to put the chicks in since I was worried it was something in the other one and didn't want the others to get sick. So I guess he made up for it.

 

[tiffanyh]

You know, animals can be epileptic also--you never now if the animal had heart problems/abnormalities also. They usually present themselves quickly like you said.

Im sorry, I know you cant help but get attached.

 

[Wes in Tx]

Sounds to me like your bird broke its neck or had a stroke.

 

[mudhen]

Oh, how sad,

, so sorry for your loss.
It is so hard to loose any pet.
And as far as your DH goes, my own has made caustic remarks like that and I often think it is to mask the fact that he can't handle the loss so he takes it out on me un
Hang in there! :aww

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

How horrific... It's so hard when we see them REALLY suffering, and the end SO near, but there is nothing we can do to help them. At least you were there to pull her out of the waterer!

Everyone else here knows more than me

but sounds like your chickie suffered an accident, and the others were panicked by it. It's amazing (and horrible, and sad, and scary) all of the ways little creatures (and little people) can find to get really hurt. I'm sorry that you went through that.


Best of luck with the rest of your additions.

 

[Jimagination]

I don't deal wel with death. Death of a stranger, pet, friend or family member. Luckily it happened when my husband was there and not when he was at work. I am hoping i never find one with its head off from a predator, like I have read on here. I am taking all the precautions I can in order to not have that happen! Thank you all for your kind words!
Jodi