Found a newly hatched chick that can't walk. How to care for it?

[KeithB]

Hello,

A hen had a nest on the side of my house and two chicks hatched and she left the nest (about 5 other eggs). Eventually another chick hatched, but it wasn't able to walk and the hen left it. She was chilling about a foot from it, ignoring it.

So I brought it in. It did seem to be pasting, so cleaned it's booty. It's pooped twice since. Also urinating. I've been trying to give it water and maple syrup. Last night it began trying to peck at things a little. Also is pretty vocal.

Today, it can stand / sit up. Still unable to walk. It seems it will go through a period of activity than get really tired. Also I haven't seen it peck yet today and it doesn't seem interested in food (tried some yoke and other ground up items).

Originally I thought I was going to be giving the chick a warm place to transition, but wondering now if it might survive? Or what I should be doing? I'll be going in to town and see if I can buy any starter for it.

I have cared for an abandoned chick previously, but that one was able to walk (for a while) and feed itself, but also had some health issues so passed.

 

[KeithB]

Just washed it's booty again, and this time it was moreso blood. Then it pooped afterwards. So I'm guessing it's just make the chick comfortable like it's in hospice care until it passes?

 

[rosemarythyme]

It may not be too interested in eating/drinking for first few days but I'd pick up some Poultry Nutri-Drench and direct dose it a few drops each day to try and perk it up. Hard to say if it will make it - if it's not walking, there may be other issues with it (which may be why the mother abandoned it).

 

[KeithB]

It may not be too interested in eating/drinking for first few days but I'd pick up some Poultry Nutri-Drench and direct dose it a few drops each day to try and perk it up. Hard to say if it will make it - if it's not walking, there may be other issues with it (which may be why the mother abandoned it).

Thanks for the reply!

And yeah, update, a foul yellow liquid has been coming out of it's behind now. Google said that wasn't good, and some blood is mixed in with it. Plus it's vent / behind appears to be swelling up too. It only being on it's second day, I imagine this is why the mother left it. I only hope it isn't suffering right now.

Should I try to mix aspirin or something in some water to ease any pain it may be in?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't know if aspirin will help (nor the dosage for such a tiny chick). It might be kindest to just put it down. With young chicks the quickest way is to simply cut off the head - if that's hard for you to look at, you can put it in a paper bag, get the scissors in position, and snip very quickly.

 

[KeithB]

I don't know if aspirin will help (nor the dosage for such a tiny chick). It might be kindest to just put it down. With young chicks the quickest way is to simply cut off the head - if that's hard for you to look at, you can put it in a paper bag, get the scissors in position, and snip very quickly.

Thanks again, he actually (thankfully) passed peacefully a couple hours after my last post. Not exactly a happy ending, but it's at peace now.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks again, he actually (thankfully) passed peacefully a couple hours after my last post. Not exactly a happy ending, but it's at peace now.

Sorry to hear that, but it's not surprising as it sounded like there were internal issues that couldn't be treated. Still it was very kind of you to try and help him.