Help! My Chick has a Tear Under her Butt!!!!!

[Melle]

I received 19 chicks on Wed. So far everything was going fine until I went to check for pasting up and when I went to get some hard poop off I tore the chickens skin. I am so upset b/c it was bleeding and I was crying! I feel so bad for the little baby. The only thing I could think of doing was to put a little neosporin on his butt. I don't know what else to do. I don't want anything to happen to him.

Any suggestions?

Should I be checking for pasting up daily so that it does not harden up? I hope I am checking them correctly. Is the anus about a fingertip away from the genitalia? What is the best way to do this without hurting them? I used a wet papertowel but had to tug a little. Again, I feel so bad and want to make this baby ok. I feel like such a bad Mom!!!!!

Please help! Thanks so much!

Melle

 

[chicknhawaii]

I'm thinking the neosporin should be good but am replying to bump this up for an expert to help you.

 

[dlhunicorn]

vaseline on the vent (and feathers) will help ease it off... I would suggest you offer free choice live culture yogurt (plain non-flavored). Be sure not only to change the water daily but to wash it out GOOD with soap and rinse well.

 

[fourfeathers]

When cleaning pasty bottoms, I always moisten a paper towel or washcloth with warm water and hold it on the area for a minute to soften. I may do this several times until it softens enough to come off easily. Then, I put bagbalm or vaseline on the bottom area to help things slide better. I check baby chicks bottoms when they are under a couple weeks old, twice a day until I know for sure one doesn't have the tendency to paste up. With the tear, just be very watchful of the other chicks so that they don't target it and peck at it. Make sure to be using a red heat lamp light so that all is red (makes it harder for them to see wounds), make sure they aren't crowded and have plenty food and water to keep them busy so they don't look for things to peck. Separate her if the tear looks like the others may bother it. I would clean gently and apply polysporin or neosporin or bag balm once or twice a day. If she pecks at herself, you may need to separate and apply blue kote. Just finished getting one well from a badly pecked bottom that I rescued from the farmstore. They heal quickly.

 

[Melle]

Thanks so much. I checked on him several times during the night. If you look at it it looks like an opened wound but it isn't bleeding and looks to be healing quickly. I do have red lights and so far today it does not look he is being pecked. He is also moving around fine.

Every time I go in to check for pasting up or to feed them they seem to be so scared. I put my hand in just to let them smell me without picking them up too. A few start peeping and they all freak out. How can I get them used to being handled. I want them to be loving. Last year, I raised 7 silkies and they would come to me but never let me get near them. I speak very softly to them too. Any suggestions? I don't want them to be scared of me.

When checking for pasting up with this many chickens(b/c they all look alike) I transfer them to a small box, check them and put them back in the brooder as they have been checked.

Again, thanks fo all your help! I really appreciate it. As you can tell, I am still new at this- it is my second year.

Melle

 

[luvmychicknkids]

No one answered your other question so I thought I would.......everything is contained in one area. They pee, poop, lay eggs, mate.....everything from the same opening, the vent. If you are seeing something else, closer to their belly area, it is their navel.

Also, if the poop is stuck too hard to wash off with a wet paper towel, you can put their little rump under warm running water until it comes right off. Just make sure to immediately get them dry andf under the heat lamp so they don't get chilled. Good luck, I am sure your little one will heal just fine.

And don't feel bad, everyone makes mistakes.

 

[d.k]

* One caveat, DO NOT USE the neo with the benzocaine 'pain reliever' in it.

 

[Melle]

I was just wondering if someone could answer my last question. Thanks so much.

 

[d.k]

* Melle, I think one key is avoiding "swooping in" and picking little critters up. Even with my big hen, I try to give her a second to realize I'm about to pick her up. Usually I put my hands on her and say something like, "Ready?? UP we go!!!" then, I lift her. It's just a silly little thing, but I think it helps. Then I usually cuddle her or pet her a few seconds, if possible and giue her a little treat.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

What I did is let the water run over its butt area, I hold them sideways but not upside down for up to 10 min sometimes if it's hard and as the warm (not hot) water runs, gently rub a little to see if there is any loose stuff to come off. One of mine was pretty bad (my first chicks before I knew what to look for) and his poor feathers come off from so much rubbing!

Eventually it will be nice and clean...just be patient. If you have to hold their butt under for over 5 min I would always give them a min break and let them run a little and then do it all over again. Their skin is VERY thin so you have to rub very gently. I'm sure this has happened to many...don't feel to bad. You didn't know

I'm sure he/she will be just fine. The good news is it stops as they get a little older

But yes check them every day to make sure...it's easier to get a little off at a time. If you got some blue kote I would spray a little on...keep him away from the other chicks until he's healed though or they may pick at him. Find a little stuffed animal to put in with him.