I think my chicken is ill, and want to know if any others have had the same happen

[Cianalh]

hello,

I have a chicken that I named lucky charm because of his/her personality and physical traits. This chicken was born with a missing eye, and with a deformed beak that makes it difficult to eat/drink. At first, it was no problem at all. Then the other chickens started trampling charm, and now charm is in a limp mode and has barely moved in the past 3 hours, and didn’t even sqwak when I picked him up. If anyone has any experience with this, please let me know. My heart grew to be attached with this one, as he/she is now my pet.

 

[roosterhavoc]

The chick should be put down. Chicks that hatch with deformities like that usually have other problems internally and rarely survive.

 

[micstrachan]

How old is this chick? I would provide warmthbfor starters and keep him safe from the flock if they are attacking him.

 

[Cianalh]

How old is this chick? I would provide warmthbfor starters and keep him safe from the flock if they are attacking him.

I brought him inside the house and put him wrapped him in a towel and have been hand feeding him and trying to give him water. He is about 15 weeks but still the size of a chick, while the others are almost fully grown.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

hello,

I have a chicken that I named lucky charm because of his/her personality and physical traits. This chicken was born with a missing eye, and with a deformed beak that makes it difficult to eat/drink. At first, it was no problem at all. Then the other chickens started trampling charm, and now charm is in a limp mode and has barely moved in the past 3 hours, and didn’t even sqwak when I picked him up. If anyone has any experience with this, please let me know. My heart grew to be attached with this one, as he/she is now my pet.

I brought him inside the house and put him wrapped him in a towel and have been hand feeding him and trying to give him water. He is about 15 weeks but still the size of a chick, while the others are almost fully grown.

I'm very sorry to hear about your chick

Do you have photos you would like to share?

It sounds like he is failing to thrive. I know it's hard, but sometimes chicks with deformities just won't make it.

 

[micstrachan]

I wonder if he’s been bullied off feed by the others. If he has trouble eating, he may have an easier time if you wet the feed into a mash. If he is in dire straits, I would give him poultry vitamins and electrolytes if you have it. If not, pedialyte or Gatorade will work in a pinch and poly-vi-sol infant vitamins without iron by enfamil can help, too.

 

[micstrachan]

I am wondering about failure to thrive, too, but have no experience with it myself.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Cianalh,

roosterhavoc is right about the chick's deformities being just part of its health issues.

However, if this chick is your pet, the length of its life is not at question, just its quality of life. I have seen many animals with deformities, go on to life full lives, some long, some short. But, they were loved and thus had a special purpose in the world, beyond providing food.

If you care for this youngster, do as micstrachan suggested. Keep it warm and safe from the other chickens. In time it will grow and compensate for its weaknesses, with your help. It's normal for chickens to pick on and even kill weak or sick chickens. It's the way they protect the flock from weakness or disease.

Thought you may like this sweet video.

God Bless

 

[Chilly Lizard]

I'm sorry to hear about your little guy. My girls make my guy eat last, so I make sure he's has lots of feed when the others forage. I wonder if he's very malnourished, I would try the mash.

 

[Saaniya]

Greetings Cianalh,

roosterhavoc is right about the chick's deformities being just part of its health issues.

However, if this chick is your pet, the length of its life is not at question, just its quality of life. I have seen many animals with deformities, go on to life full lives, some long, some short. But, they were loved and thus had a special purpose in the world, beyond providing food.

If you care for this youngster, do as micstrachan suggested. Keep it warm and safe from the other chickens. In time it will grow and compensate for its weaknesses, with your help. It's normal for chickens to pick on and even kill weak or sick chickens. It's the way they protect the flock from weakness or disease.

Thought you may like this sweet video.

God Bless

Cute video touch my heart