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.

 

[Royal Red]

Do you have rats in your area?....That's too bad, poor little Chick...Anyway to make a secure safe pen?

We do, but they shouldn't be in our garage...too much activity. Would a rat attack a baby chick with the mother near?

 

[Royal Red]

I am happy to say, that we have identified a name for this little guy as, "curious george". I have been putting neosporn on the affected area. He is eating and drinking well. Brough Mama in to see him each day and sibling so they don't forget him. Hoping to reintroduce him once better. Praying that isn't a pipe dream.

Noticed today at his femur he has a quarter size bruising. how would you treat that? I read soaking leg in epsonsalts, but it is winter her in MI and I have him under a heat lamp in my house at least for the first few days. I did give him a cottonball bath and used the blow dryer to keep him from getting drafty. Any suggestions? Thanks so much for you help.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[chickens really]

Do you have rats in your area?....That's too bad, poor little Chick...Anyway to make a secure safe pen?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Use Blue Kote on her neck wound. I had a similar think happen to my rescued Cornish cross. The leghorns pecked her real bad. I isolated her in a dog crate in my house and cleaned the wound with hydrogen peroxide and blue Kote. I also applied neosporin as the blue Kote hardened and lifted up from her neck revealing pink healthy skin. I hope this helps you help your chick.

 

[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.