First time OB Mama attacked her chick

[Royal Red]

Hello,

I have two OB chicks one week old. First time mama hatched and cared for them. Placed them in a sufficient sized cage in the garage. Used heat lamp when necessary, was successfully transitioning them from the cage at night to wonder around garage during the day with water, food and light. However, today when I my husband came home the 3 of the were under my workbench and one was limping with a blotchy ring around its neck. After closer observation the one chick is missing feathers around her neck in front and most of the back of her neck and appears to be limping. Here are a few pics. I gave her aspirin water, neosporn as best as I could around the exposed area. Have her in a smaller cage in the house. She has eaten a few nibbles of food and two drops of water. She seems exposed all the way around her neck and I would like to know if I should use water to clean it better or should I try to put gauze to minimize the infection? Should I use heat lamp to keep her warm. Any other suggestions would be helpful.

 

[sfgwife]

Are you sure mama did this? Or could the chick have gotten caught on somethin a d pulled?

Yes the chick needs heat. Might do better with a friend too. After a good clean (we use vetrycin) but you can use diluted betadine or hibacleanse (somethin gentle not alcohol or peroxide) put antibiotic ointment with no pain reliever on it. Make sure chick is takin water. Water is more important than feed right now. Wet mushy feed chick might like. Keep chick warm and in a quiet place.

 

[micstrachan]

I agree. Warmth and fluids. Also wondering if she hurt herself on something and mom did not do this. What happens when you observe them?

 

[Royal Red]

Thank you. I haven't investigated on my hands and knees, but anything could be possible. Found feathers in various places in the garage and though they were the chicks.

 

[mestenos]

Wow, that looks horrid. You could clean it with warm water, bactine, or some other mild disinfectant. I wouldn't put gauze on because it might irritate her flesh and her in general. When I first read your post's title, I thought the chicks might have already grown up a little and the mother was just tired of them. My hens would get tired after a few weeks and start chasing the chicks. I guess your mother hen is just a bad case and needs to be separated from the chicks. Give the little guy a heat lamp to keep warm, and probably separate it from the other chicks too. Chicks are quite resilient. Hopefully your little guy feels better soon.

 

[Royal Red]

Thank you. It looks so bad and suspectable to infection. I did not wash it very well because I thought it would make the chick colder. Instead put neosporin on the wound. I am going to look at the workbench to see if I can identify what happened.

 

[Royal Red]

I agree. Warmth and fluids. Also wondering if she hurt herself on something and mom did not do this. What happens when you observe them?

Considering no vital organs look compromised, I think may be the chick was stuck. Still has a leg injury, though which I am going to give it a day to see if she starts to use it. At this point it is limp or curled. She stands and sits back down. Feeling bad.

 

[micstrachan]

Please don’t feel bad. You caught it before someone got killed and you are taking care of it. We all do our best and take our new knowledge with us as we continue to care for our birds. And you will probably establish a special bond with this little one.

 

[Royal Red]

thank you and you right. Crying now...She's adjusting her position but still has an issue with her leg. I will look up leg injuries to see what is next.

 

[Royal Red]

Added an updated picture and still concerned I didn't wash the area well enough. Seems to be sleeping now. thanks for everyones help.