Hatchling abandoned and attacked, has strange yellow blob

[MotherHen2017]

I'm sorry, it makes you feel so helpless, doesn't it?

It really does. But I am happy to hear she's taking care of the other little ones.

 

[Nimueh Alene]

Thanks, and thanks for replying.

Too late, I'm afraid, he's been there all night. I just had to try to think what would be worse and thought getting "investigated" by the others might be worse.... No doubt I've done the wrong thing (it's not a very hot/high powered light (it's not really cold here at all), the others have stuck right underneath it and they are all cuddled together, so hopefully he hasn't been "cooked")

We don't have Neosporin over here. The "blob" is just yucky, I don't know whether it's yolk or guts or what... It hasn't really bled, but it's oozed "something" and it's sort of collapsed, just like "stuff' hanging off. If it's broken yolk, what happens? He can't absorb the necessary "stuff" and dies from that, or it lets infection in, or....? I really don't think he'll survive, I just don't know that he's definitely not going to "come good" to make a decision to euthanize him, and I don't know how to euthanize him, anyway

I'm not really worried about that very much, like any wound if it doesn't get infected, hopefully it'll just heal up. It's the "guts" issue that is freaking me out. Also, that he seemed all right beforehand, I can't be sure he just wasn't really badly hurt by being attacked.

I think the others are ok (2/3 anyway), so at least everyone didn't get massacred.

Now I have to try to figure out how to look after them myself and how to eventually get them back out there with the other chooks without getting murdered....

As for Paulina, I don't think she'll get broken from being clucky which was the whole point of letting her have some eggs.

sigh.

EDIT: I've just had a look at him. To me, it looks like intestines, it's loopy, like bowels. I don't think he can "come good" from that.... What do I do to let him go?

If you think it's intestines than letting him go would be the kindest thing you can do. I had one with a unabsorbed yolk and I saw a lot of change within a couple of hours... It's possible mama stepped on him.

 

[User395221]

@potato chip so the one that we thought had intestines hanging out is ok too??

No, he died.

There were 3 others, 2 of which were pretty good, one was a bit "wonky", but the wonky one has improved.

That's great news that Paulina is taking care of them.

Yes, and the littlies seem so much perkier with her. I hope nothing "turns nasty" and it stays good. If it was another hen who did the attack, things should be ok. I suspect Lucy, because she'd obviously laid in the nest where Paulina was (Lucy's black copper maran, she has dark eggs, there were a couple in there)

You may need to remove the last egg if it doesn't hatch within the next day or so.

I already did, I candled it yesterday and it didn't look full, I don't think it was viable. I want her to focus on the babies instead of the egg, so I took it away.

And for the bigger wire, if you have some screen, or even cardboard along the ground inside the wire could keep little ones inside.

I've got plenty of "stuff" I can use but I'll just have to figure it out tomorrow. I've got the lurgy, and slept all afternoon. I was thinking I might stick a dog crate in the run and put them in there.... The difficult thing is that the door into the run is quite narrow, so none of my other hutches would fit through. The dog crate is folded, so I could get it in there. I'm a bit worried about reintegrating them, after the attacks. If they are in the run, the other girls might not see them as interlopers when they come back? I can let them out in a few weeks when they are bigger and not so easy to attack?

I don't agree with the starter fluid method, as i have since read articles stating that it isn't humane, but that's just a few opinions, so it is an option, depending on your own personal views.

Any option is kind of unpleasant, but I think I could do it with the chopper, if I have to in future. I hope my girls die in their sleep.... Anyway, I've now got the equipment if it's needed. I'm not sure what starter fluid is? Like petrol? I don't want to think too much about it, I'll stick to the hatchet if it ever comes to that in future. I once tried to gas a mouse using an online method and it did not go well....

 

[Kiki]

@potato chip Hugs Miss Chip!!

 

[WVduckchick]

After reading, I thought it WOULD be the most humane. Huh.

Here's another good thread on euthanasia, in my opinion, some good medical-type research. I'm not convinced that the ether isn't humane also, but something just doesn't feel right about it to me. I honestly think its up to each individual to decide what they can handle and the best way that suits them. Maybe in a can, out of sight, is the easiest. I'm just not sure what the bird's body goes through.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/euthanasia-information.1195265/

The dog crate is folded, so I could get it in there. I'm a bit worried about reintegrating them, after the attacks. If they are in the run, the other girls might not see them as interlopers when they come back? I can let them out in a few weeks when they are bigger and not so easy to attack?

I have found that the quicker you integrate, the better it goes -- once the chicks are up and running around well (within the first week or so). Momma should protect them, and she does it better when they are small and stay under her more closely. Once they venture further from her, they are more susceptible to the other hens. But if momma teaches the other ladies early on, then they know to stay away from them. Again, just my opinion.

 

[User395221]

I have found that the quicker you integrate, the better it goes -- once the chicks are up and running around well (within the first week or so).

Yes, that's my feeling. I'll put the dog crate in the run and give them a few days/a week to put on some weight and then do some supervised outings to watch what happens. Sounds like a plan. I'll just be so worried to leave them unsupervised after what happened.

 

[WVduckchick]

Yes, that's my feeling. I'll put the dog crate in the run and give them a few days/a week to put on some weight and then do some supervised outings to watch what happens. Sounds like a plan. I'll just be so worried to leave them unsupervised after what happened.

Its definitely scary, and I've had my share of losses.

Here's a cute pic for you, these are serama chicks, 2-3 weeks old. She taught them to use the ladder so quickly! And all the others leave them alone. But I was very worried for these first-time mommas and the babies being sooo tiny.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Here's another good thread on euthanasia, in my opinion, some good medical-type research. I'm not convinced that the ether isn't humane also, but something just doesn't feel right about it to me. I honestly think its up to each individual to decide what they can handle and the best way that suits them. Maybe in a can, out of sight, is the easiest. I'm just not sure what the bird's body goes through.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/euthanasia-information.1195265/

Thank you. Will read through this today. I was thinking about the easiest way to euth a baby chick... which, I think, would be hard for me to cut it's head off... but more inclined to do in a box with Co2 or the starter fluid.

 

[User395221]

Ok, update if anyone's interested. Paulina and the babies stayed in the little house for a couple of days, then I moved them to the dog crate in the run. I left the tray out and covered the bottom with dirt so it was "normal". Today, I've let them out into the "gen pop" (as they say in prison movies). Everyone seems to just be ignoring them and not trying to attack them. Hope that continues. Here she is with 2 of them, the other one must have been behind or underneath. They (or one of them at least) like riding around on her back. The gash above the eye on one of them is pretty much all healed, you can just see it a little bit in the photo.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ok, update if anyone's interested. Paulina and the babies stayed in the little house for a couple of days, then I moved them to the dog crate in the run. I left the tray out and covered the bottom with dirt so it was "normal". Today, I've let them out into the "gen pop" (as they say in prison movies). Everyone seems to just be ignoring them and not trying to attack them. Hope that continues. Here she is with 2 of them, the other one must have been behind or underneath. They (or one of them at least) like riding around on her back. The gash above the eye on one of them is pretty much all healed, you can just see it a little bit in the photo.
View attachment 1158356

What a sweet photo! I'm glad to hear they are doing well, thanks for the update!