I have no idea what I'm doing...

[JenJae]

We have a broody hen who is in the process of hatching 6 eggs total. Three of the chicks arrived late last week, and two hatched yesterday, one egg still in the wing. When I left for work yesterday the two newest chicks were just emerging. When I got home one was perfectly fine, the other had been tossed to the other side of the coop, I'm assuming by mama hen. It was hardly breathing and bleeding out from its stomach. There was blood on the pine shavings all around him. I picked the little guy up and tried to give him back to the hen but she pecked at him hard and created another wound. This is the first batch of chicks that our flock has hatched so I was freaking out. I thought the little guy was on death's door and suffering so I sucked it up and ended his misery. A few hours later I did some searching online and found people are saving these chicks who are bleeding at the umbilical cord site with corn starch and other over-the-counter blood coagulators. I am heartbroken and can hardly stand myself right now. Why did I assume the chick was not able to be saved? Why didn't I check online before taking such drastic measures? Why did I think putting the chick near the mama and her new babies was safe, and cause undue pain and suffering?
I guess this isn't so much a thread as it is a confession. I'm just sick over this and wondering if I should even be raising chickens being so naive.

 

[Chicksnmind]

It could be the momma hen knows something was wrong with the chick.

 

[WVduckchick]

We have a broody hen who is in the process of hatching 6 eggs total. Three of the chicks arrived late last week, and two hatched yesterday, one egg still in the wing. When I left for work yesterday the two newest chicks were just emerging. When I got home one was perfectly fine, the other had been tossed to the other side of the coop, I'm assuming by mama hen. It was hardly breathing and bleeding out from its stomach. There was blood on the pine shavings all around him. I picked the little guy up and tried to give him back to the hen but she pecked at him hard and created another wound. This is the first batch of chicks that our flock has hatched so I was freaking out. I thought the little guy was on death's door and suffering so I sucked it up and ended his misery. A few hours later I did some searching online and found people are saving these chicks who are bleeding at the umbilical cord site with corn starch and other over-the-counter blood coagulators. I am heartbroken and can hardly stand myself right now. Why did I assume the chick was not able to be saved? Why didn't I check online before taking such drastic measures? Why did I think putting the chick near the mama and her new babies was safe, and cause undue pain and suffering?
I guess this isn't so much a thread as it is a confession. I'm just sick over this and wondering if I should even be raising chickens being so naive.

Don't beat yourself up!
If the hen is taking care of the others, and could sense something wrong with this one, then chances are good that you did the humane thing.

 

[sylviethecochin]

First, I'm sorry that this happened to you. That sounds like a miserable experience.

But if the chick was cold and barely breathing, he probably wouldn't have made it anyway. Frankly, putting a chick out of its misery is not the worst thing you'll ever do in your life. A quick death is not the worst thing that can happen to anything. Chalk it up to a learning experience, vow to check online next time, and start marking your eggs so you can be sure they'll all hatch at the same time.

 

[Chickenlover720]

I'm sorry for the loss. However, don't be so hard on yourself as these things happen. Making mistakes is part of the journey. All you can do now is move forward and learn from situation. I understand that you wish now you could have done things differently but haven't we all been through times like these. Look at it this way, now you've been able to do more research and learn even more about how to treat things like this so next time you'll be more prepared.
Dont give up because this happened. It sounds to me like you adore your chickens and I think that you will pull through this and be an even better chicken owner. Don't beat yourself up.

 

[dalasgalas]

Don't beat yourself up. Owning chickens is often a learn as you go type of thing. IMHO you did the best thing for that little guy. At least he didn't die alone, he had a compassionate owner looking after the deed.

Culling is never easy, especially the little guys.

 

[PirateGirl]

Do not be sick over it. Mama rejected the chick for a reason. It would not have survived with mama. It probably would not have survived with you. You were brave and acted in the best interest of the chick to prevent prolonged suffering. I'm not saying this was an easy decision, it is difficult whenever a life is lost, but do not beat yourself up over it. Chickens lay many eggs for a reason; it is normal for some not to be viable and die early on during incubation and normal for another percentage of chicks not to survive after hatch. I'm sorry your first broody experience was challenging, but now your responsibility is to continue to take good care of mama hen so she can take good care of any surviving chicks.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I guess this isn't so much a thread as it is a confession. I'm just sick over this and wondering if I should even be raising chickens being so naive.

Chicks with open umbilicus MIGHT be saved... but often times, they get an infection anyways and pass.

I wish more people had the guts to do what they think is right instead of letting chicks die slowly! I'm sorry for your sadness, but 100% think you are the best keeper you can be. We all start somewhere, experience is the mother of all teachers. I too have doubted myself and considered throwing in the towel.

Staggered hatch often means death to either the early or later hatchers as mama hen has to decide when to leave the nest to feed hungry chicks. As mentioned, next time mark your hatching eggs make sure they are set on the same day and collect any new deposits made to the nest daily.

Pics of your mama and her babes welcome!

Congrats on your other babies!

 

[jolenesdad]

I’m so sorry for your loss and for the stress it’s causing you.

I think we all have these moments of doubt and that’s okay.

Even without the additional trauma, it is near impossible to bring a chick back at such a critically young age that has been chilled and without heat. I, personally, don’t even have a single doubt that you made the right decision.

This goes along with what a very great bet told me when I was losing my absolute favorite horse to laminitis and suffering the same doubts. In horses, we know so little about laminitis, what causes it, and how to treat it and you can drive yourself crazy doing around the clock therapies you may find worked for someone, but more than likely that horse was going to make it anyway or not, regardless of what we can do.

I think this is even more true with chickens, there’s a general lack of even scientific and veterinary knowledge. There are many, many, MANY respectable and knowledgeable chicken keepers that do not treat for so many conditions because the odds are so insurmountably stacked against you. It is better for you, your time to spend managing the entire flock, the flocks health, and the sick chicken to end the suffering.

You will ALWAYS be able to find someone who did something that “saved” a chick, but it’s just anecdotal evidence. More than likely the chick was going to make it anyway or die anyway.

A bird in a brooder with heat with an umbilical hernia or bleeding could MAYBE be saved. A bird with an injury that has been rejected by its mother stands little to no chance by design. Mother Nature seems cruel but there’s a reason for it.

Sorry to ramble on and on, I just wanted to try and say something to make you feel better. I have had many chicks I feel like I may have prolonged suffering for by trying to save, and that’s a worse feeling for me, with even more guilt.

 

[Shadrach]

We have a broody hen who is in the process of hatching 6 eggs total. Three of the chicks arrived late last week, and two hatched yesterday, one egg still in the wing. When I left for work yesterday the two newest chicks were just emerging. When I got home one was perfectly fine, the other had been tossed to the other side of the coop, I'm assuming by mama hen. It was hardly breathing and bleeding out from its stomach. There was blood on the pine shavings all around him. I picked the little guy up and tried to give him back to the hen but she pecked at him hard and created another wound. This is the first batch of chicks that our flock has hatched so I was freaking out. I thought the little guy was on death's door and suffering so I sucked it up and ended his misery. A few hours later I did some searching online and found people are saving these chicks who are bleeding at the umbilical cord site with corn starch and other over-the-counter blood coagulators. I am heartbroken and can hardly stand myself right now. Why did I assume the chick was not able to be saved? Why didn't I check online before taking such drastic measures? Why did I think putting the chick near the mama and her new babies was safe, and cause undue pain and suffering?
I guess this isn't so much a thread as it is a confession. I'm just sick over this and wondering if I should even be raising chickens being so naive.

You did the right thing. hard though this may seem.
I only hatch with broody hens and ime if mother decides the chick isn't going to make for whatever reason I accept the mothers decision.
I have saved a couple of chicks in the past and they survived for a while but were never accepted by the mother and consequently never integrated into the mothers flock. Both these chicks got predated because they were always on the outskirts of the group.
I know the normal instinct is to try and save chicks. But, you need to think about the long term consequences and of course, the work you will have to put into the chick for the next six to eight weeks.
It helps if you undersand that the mother in 'natural' conditions tries to get all her chicks hatched and out of the nest withing a 24 hour period.
This way all her chicks have similar development and equal survival chances. It also means that while she and the chicks are at their most vulnerable she stands a better chance of protecting them if she doesn't have any that are lagging behind.
To humans a baby is far more important than it is to a hen. A hen can lay and hatch at least two clutches a year, with maybe six to eight chicks per clutch in decent conditions. One sick chick is not worth her time. Yes it seems a bit brutal but hens have used this strategy for centuries.
Now, the moment I see a hen properly reject a chick I kill the chick and if she leaves partially hatched eggs I kill them to.
It's not something I like doing but for the chick, the mum and for me it's the only sensible option.
Your first instinct was the right one. It's only guilt that has made you think you may have been wrong. The hen is certainly not going to be bothered by it.
Really, you did the right thing. Let it go and be prepared to do the same should it happen again.