Injured chick

[Trampmom]

Ok BYC, I need some help.

I have a 6 week old bantam chick. Two weeks ago, a board was broken in the top of the brooder, and it must have hit the chick. I knew he was injured by the way he was walking, but I thought he was well enough to stay with mom and sibling. The next morning when I went to let them out, he couldn't walk.

Since then, he's been in the house. He only wants to lay on his left side, and seems to be favoring his left leg. He can bend both legs and can push with both feet, but he really only wants to have both legs extended straight out behind him, whether he's laying down or I'm holding up. He also started doing like a body "lurch". This has seemed to get a little better, but he still does it with his head sometimes.

I took him in and 2 vets looked at him. They did xrays and said the legs and pelvis are not broken. The only thing they told me was that it could have caused a spinal injury or a neurological injury. They basically told me to just exercise his legs.

I have been feeding him every 3 hours during the day, and he eats like a horse. I've been giving him water with Save-a-chick, his regular chick crumbles, cooked egg mixed with oats, Greek yogurt, a little bit of B vitamin complex, and a few drops of vitamin E, along with some healthy treats like watermelon. I'm also taking him out to see mom and sister for a few minutes every day.

I've tried about a dozen different versions of a chick sling, which he inevitably escapes from using his legs and wings, and I finally made a cardboard cover with a hole in it for his head to stick out. I've used it a few times, but I feel like it's cruel with the weather being SO hot, and I'm not even sure if it's what I should be doing.

I'm doing my best to try to save the little guy, but I'm out of ideas.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry about your chick.

It sounds like you are doing everything you can for him.
I'm not sure what else you can try. It's good that you were able to rule out breaks with the vet visits.

Unfortunately sometimes things just don't go very well and a chick(en) is unable to recover from injury or illness. You may want to give him more time to see if he improves, but do consider quality of life as well.

 

[Buffy Brahma Mama]

Ok BYC, I need some help.

I have a 6 week old bantam chick. Two weeks ago, a board was broken in the top of the brooder, and it must have hit the chick. I knew he was injured by the way he was walking, but I thought he was well enough to stay with mom and sibling. The next morning when I went to let them out, he couldn't walk.

Since then, he's been in the house. He only wants to lay on his left side, and seems to be favoring his left leg. He can bend both legs and can push with both feet, but he really only wants to have both legs extended straight out behind him, whether he's laying down or I'm holding up. He also started doing like a body "lurch". This has seemed to get a little better, but he still does it with his head sometimes.

I took him in and 2 vets looked at him. They did xrays and said the legs and pelvis are not broken. The only thing they told me was that it could have caused a spinal injury or a neurological injury. They basically told me to just exercise his legs.

I have been feeding him every 3 hours during the day, and he eats like a horse. I've been giving him water with Save-a-chick, his regular chick crumbles, cooked egg mixed with oats, Greek yogurt, a little bit of B vitamin complex, and a few drops of vitamin E, along with some healthy treats like watermelon. I'm also taking him out to see mom and sister for a few minutes every day.

I've tried about a dozen different versions of a chick sling, which he inevitably escapes from using his legs and wings, and I finally made a cardboard cover with a hole in it for his head to stick out. I've used it a few times, but I feel like it's cruel with the weather being SO hot, and I'm not even sure if it's what I should be doing.

I'm doing my best to try to save the little guy, but I'm out of ideas.

So sorry about your chick. Can you attach a video of it moving around?
In addition to the feedings, are you keeping crumbles within reach of it for free choice feedings?

 

[Trampmom]

Thank you for your response. I have considered the quality of life thing.

I'm trying everything I can think of, but I do realize it's not fair to him. And I also can't go on with the every 3 hour feedings forever either.

Hopefully I will get a few more ideas to try from BYC members. I'll give it a reasonable amount of time, but if he doesn't improve, at least I have a vet that can put him down humanely.

 

[Trampmom]

So sorry about your chick. Can you attach a video of it moving around?
In addition to the feedings, are you keeping crumbles within reach of it for free choice feedings?

I will try to post a video tomorrow, but it may be beyond my capabilities. We start him standing up and he basically ends up on that left side with a lot of kicking and flapping. He does move though. My husband thought he did a little better tonight, but I'm not so sure.

I do not have crumbles in there because I don't think he could get them. I didn't want to just leave them loose on the bottom because of the poop. I've been going through a lot of towels!

 

[Buffy Brahma Mama]

I will try to post a video tomorrow, but it may be beyond my capabilities. We start him standing up and he basically ends up on that left side with a lot of kicking and flapping. He does move though. My husband thought he did a little better tonight, but I'm not so sure.

I do not have crumbles in there because I don't think he could get them. I didn't want to just leave them loose on the bottom because of the poop. I've been going through a lot of towels!

If you can, put some food in front of him and without any prompting or standing him up, see what his behavior is when he goes for the food and video it. How is the water situation? Does he have access to water at all times?

For your own sanity and to ensure he is getting enough nutrition, I would keep crumbles in with him. It becomes difficult and exhausting to do 3 hr feedings, very quickly. He seems super willing to eat on his own, which is a great sign. You can supplement with all the other things you mentioned periodically, perhaps 2-3 times a day vs 8. The food will need to be readily accessible and in a container where he will not have a chance of getting stuck. Is you can send a pic of your set-up it would be helpful.

If you can get him eating and drinking mostly on his own, it will help reduce your stress and hopefully given time, his issue can improve. I suspect you may need food and water in more than one spot, but they will need to be kept in the same spot each time when you change them, so that he can learn to maneuver over to them. You will likely need to modify some food and water systems for him, so he can stay safe. Pics of the whole set up will definitely help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I will try to post a video tomorrow, but it may be beyond my capabilities. We start him standing up and he basically ends up on that left side with a lot of kicking and flapping. He does move though. My husband thought he did a little better tonight, but I'm not so sure.

I do not have crumbles in there because I don't think he could get them. I didn't want to just leave them loose on the bottom because of the poop. I've been going through a lot of towels!

You can try tube feeding it may be quicker for the feedings. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

Towels are good, but I'm sure it's added work. You may want to consider puppy pads to help out too. I use them if I happen to brood chicks inside, easy cleanup, but I only keep chicks inside for about 4-5 days, so a package will last quite a while.

 

[Trampmom]

I was unable to figure out how to post a video of him moving, but here is a picture of his set-up.

When he moves, he just circles the cage like a race car driver. I have seen him drag himself right over both of the bowls, but today he managed to stop at the crumble bowl and actually eat.

Twice today I've put him in his covered sling and had him eat from there. I've decided that since the babying has not helped, this week we will work much more aggressively with him. I will do more epsom salt baths, more time outside, and more time in the sling.

If, by the end of the week he's no better, I will have to let him go. At least I will know that I've done everything I could to help him.

I'm still open to suggestions, if anyone has any.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

For video, it would need to be uploaded to youtube or similar platform then you provide a link.

 

[Trampmom]

Well, I hope I added the video correctly of the chick trying to walk (with no help from my kids!) Patting myself on the back if it worked...