Help poorly chick

[thepick4uchicks]

She doesn't need grit unless she is eating food other than her chick starter.
If they need it, they will take it instinctively. They don't need it to be mixed in. I hope she feels better soon.

I agree wholeheartedly with that statement but I was thinking she could have ingested bedding materials..... so was hoping the aid of some grit in her food might help when we didn’t know of anything else right now.

 

[Chezwilli]

Ok. Got up this morning. Chick is in a separate box. Blood spots on floor of bedding and a small hole in back of her neck. Feathers a bit crusty around wound so clearly happened in early hours of this morning. Last night I was pushing fluids with a dropper and she started getting a bit perkier. She’s taken some food offered by hand , but none otherwise and has had a few poos that look more solid. Last fed/fluids about 3-4 this morning.View attachment 2249623

Cleaning with saline solution, looks like some sort of lump in back of her head that has burst?

 

[Chezwilli]

Hi I’m sorry about your chick being ill. What type of bedding is she on? Could she have eaten some paper toweling or lining from a puppy pad? Mine did that one time and it didn’t hurt them but they pooped out the white paper.

She’s in wood shavings and paper. Removed the paper towels as they just kept eating it!

 

[Chezwilli]

She doesn't need grit unless she is eating food other than her chick starter.
If they need it, they will take it instinctively. They don't need it to be mixed in. I hope she feels better soon.

They go out on the grass when the weather is warm and they’ve been eating their bedding so just made the grit available. It’s only mixed in the poorly chicks food.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

She’s in wood shavings and paper. Removed the paper towels as they just kept eating it!

That lump can be an oil gland that they have which is used to keep their feathers in good health. Not for sure if that is it 100% but most likely so. Just keep it clean if you can like they suggested for a few days. If their is red blood in it they will peck anything red. It is good to have some blu kote spray or aerosol or product of something in the blu kote line to cover any bleeding that comes up with chickens because they will peck a bleeder to death. Vetericyn is the best line of products available on the market now in my opinion. You can order them on Amazon. They have a complete line of stuff for all animals and poultry for wound care of all types even eye care without an Rx. Some of it is pricey but worth it. I have it in my chicken and dog first aid box at home. Styptic powder is often red but it stops bleeding also fast but flour will also do the job in a pinch and it’s harmless and cheap.

 

[The Happster]

Cleaning with saline solution, looks like some sort of lump in back of her head that has burst?View attachment 2249710View attachment 2249710

Flip! Poor bird! That's a bit worrying.

You're right about the oil gland, but that isn't it.
The oil gland is located just before the tail begins, at the back.
That's very worrying. Really hope she makes it.

 

[Chezwilli]

That lump can be an oil gland that they have which is used to keep their feathers in good health. Not for sure if that is it 100% but most likely so. Just keep it clean if you can like they suggested for a few days. If their is red blood in it they will peck anything red. It is good to have some blu kote spray or aerosol or product of something in the blu kote line to cover any bleeding that comes up with chickens because they will peck a bleeder to death. Vetericyn is the best line of products available on the market now in my opinion. You can order them on Amazon. They have a complete line of stuff for all animals and poultry for wound care of all types even eye care without an Rx. Some of it is pricey but worth it. I have it in my chicken and dog first aid box at home. Styptic powder is often red but it stops bleeding also fast but flour will also do the job in a pinch and it’s harmless and cheap.

Thanks. I’ve got her separated at the moment. The bleeding has stopped by itself, but don’t know how the hole got there as she’s in by herself. Just wondering if the lump/hole is what’s causing her to be unwell rather than ingesting something bad?

 

[Chezwilli]

Flip! Poor bird! That's a bit worrying.

You're right about the oil gland, but that isn't it.
The oil gland is located just before the tail begins, at the back.
That's very worrying. Really hope she makes it.

Do you have any idea what it might be? She’s just hiding out under the electric hen all the time.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Flip! Poor bird! That's a bit worrying.

You're right about the oil gland, but that isn't it.
The oil gland is located just before the tail begins, at the back.
That's very worrying. Really hope she makes it.

Y’all got me! I’m stumped! Do you think it’s a bug bite? Do you have any full grown hens that would have pecked her? Surely a chick wouldn’t have done that much damage? Could it have gotten hung up or under something that punctured it’s neck? That looks like a puncture wound. Any other pets in the house that would or could have snuck around and gotten to her on the sly?

 

[The Happster]

I'm hoping it isn't, but it looks internal to me.
There isn't tons of blood, thankfully.