HELP! Baby chick scalped *graphic*...update: she didn't make it :(

[nurseshelly]

Ohhh I hope your little chick recovers ... poor baby! Have you tried bok boking and tapping the food so she can find it? She might come running to the sound even if she can't see well yet.

 

[LostGosling]

Here's a pick of her and one of her siblings just a day after her near death experience. When I took her away from the hen and saw the spot on her wing, I was so scared that the tendon had been cut, but she moves those little wings like nothing ever happened! She has a very spunky personality, too!

She's the white one on the left.

 

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

Not sure if you have a "Henry"s" store (or other health food store) where you live, but you can get homeopathic medicine and treat this. I just finished treating a button quail with the exact same issue.
There is dissolvable pellets made by "Boiron". Just crush between 2 spoons and mix with a few drops of water and feed with a dropper.

Here is what I would do:
If you feel the bird is in shock - use arnica 200ck twice a day for 3 days. If no arnica, gelcemium 30c 3x a day for 3 days.
For swelling of the head - use hypericum perforatum 30c 3x a day until better.
If you think there is neurological damage - use ignacia 30c twice a day for 3 days.
Liquid B complex from GNC helps with stress, increases blood flow, energy, appetite and encourages faster healing.
Vitamins in the water are always helpful.
Neosporin on the head to prevent infection. If there is bleeding or the wound is re-opened use corn starch or flower to promote clotting and stop bleeding. Dont pull skin off, it will take care of itself in the healing process.

You should see improvement around day 3, make sure the chick is eating and drinking.
These are some methods I use for rescue birds with head injuries.

Good luck!

 

[77horses]

UPDATE: it's in the morning and she's still doing okay...her head isn't as red and bloody-looking, but I'm worried about infection. I don't currently have saline flush on hand right now, but I did put the neosporin on...what could I use to clean it up a bit, and how do I do so without hurting her too much?

Thanks!

 

[77horses]

Sooo.....still looking for an answer on what to do about the dry flap of skin on her head, and how to make a saline flush or anything else to clean the wound? And how do clean it without hurting her?

 

[kyrose]

go up to google search and type in making saline and you should be able to get the recipe.how much of her skin is still attached? alot or hanging by a thread?

 

[StrayMagnet]

what I would do is go get some gauze.. and a surringe. and if you can get saline. I'd fill the surringe with the saline and gently squirt it on the wound and gently dab with the guaze.
as for the flap of skin, IMO i don't think it will hurt anything to stay in place. no need to cause further trama by trying to remove it. think if it as a War scar. and im sure the head will heal around it.

and just keep up what your doing, that is all I can think of

 

[77horses]

Thanks everyone...I found a homemade saline solution, which is 'salt, a pinch of baking powder to a quart of water"...by salt, does that mean normal iodized table salt? Or sea salt? Probably not sea salt because it would be too strong...but would plain table salt work?

kyrose: the flap of skin is still attached by quite a lot. I thought about removing it because it's just hanging off to the side and it's pretty much dried up, but it's connected to the rest of the remaining skin on her head and around her swollen eyes and I'm not sure if there are still any nerves in it, so I don't want to mess with it and cause further damage.

 

[Pharm Girl]

Well, I'm no doctor, but I am a sonographer (Ultrasound)! My guess is eventually the flap will dry up and fall off on it's own. It may take a while though. I would just let it's body take care of that. Good job on being so proactive about helping the poor baby! I would think regular table salt would be fine? The only difference I can think of is table salt has iodine and sea salt doesn't. I know they used to use iodine/betadine solutions to clean wounds, so my thinking is that table salt may still be fine?

 

[77horses]

Alright, I'll make the saline flush with table salt then. I'm really starting to worry that I might be too late though...the wound is starting to look brown/gray and it has a slight nasty odor.