Input please!

[amccann]

I had a hen set on a clutch of 9 starting Friday of last week, 7/30/21, and 8 were out by Monday, 8/2/21. Number 9 was slow and came out of the shell probably at about 4pm. At 420 pm I went to see how everyone was doing and mama and the famous 8 were out and about and there lay number 9. Cold and torn up in a fashion that appears as though mom stepped on it leaving the box to chase 1-8. I picked #9 up assuming it was dead as it was cold, wet and motionless. I picked 9 up, apologized for being late to save it and checked mom and babies for water and feed requirements and that’s when #9 peeped at me. I whisked away into the house and put 9 in the incubator in hopes that I could reheat the little critter into a will to live. I named #9 Schrodinger because I feel it’s appropriate to acknowledge that it may be both alive and soon dead. So Schrodie is eating, drinking and social at this point in a brooder box, 2 days after hatching and has a HORRID wound that I have been slathering with aloe or terramycin several times a day. Schrodie digs scrambled eggs and electrolyte/probiotic water. Working on crumble added in. I know I need to clean the wound but I am at a loss of the best course of action for this task. Schrodie is maybe 1oz at this point. Tiny bird. Until it’s dead though, it is alive and trying so I need to do what I can. I will attach pictures in hopes of helping visualize what I’m working with here. Thanks in advance.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

I’m so sorry, I don’t have much input other than to keep him warm.

I believe you can feed him very small portions of scrambled eggs once a week to fatten him up a little.

Good luck with schrodie. Very creative name.
@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @aart @

 

[Shezadandy]

Young critters are amazing at healing. Feed him some ground up chick starter along with the scrambled eggs and obviously water. Given that he's able to get up and stand and walk around, that's a good sign. As for how to clean it - as long as he's in a fairly protected setting, keeping the wound moist with antibiotic ointment as you've been doing should do it, a big cleaning shouldn't be needed.

If it gets too gunky - a small syringe (like a 3ml or 12ml) gives a very accurate stream so you just get the wound and not the whole chick wet. Another good one is the monoject 412 syringe, which is what dentists give you after wisdom teeth come out, it's got a curved narrow tip - if you don't want to buy a box of them, maybe call a couple dentists and ask if they would sell you one (I imagine they'd just give it to you).

Fill a little bowl with warm water and a small amount of Dawn dish soap to clean - or iodine soap, we're talking like a drop of it here. Suck the diluted soapy water into the syringe, spray onto the wound -- Then once the old ointment is off, fill the little bowl with warm water, clean the syringe, and give him a rinse. Use something really soft like gauze or Charmin grade toilet paper- my very favorite "baby chick robe" material... to dry ... and reapply ointment.

Most chicks don't mind blow dryers as long as they can hide under your hand or a dry wash cloth if he gets wetter.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

When the chick eats does that wound leak?

Just trying to determine the wound. Is the wing missing?

 

[amccann]

When the chick eats does that wound leak?

Just trying to determine the wound. Is the wing missing?

The wing is not missing, it’s just veeeerrry ugly. Hide missing from shoulder to elbow

 

[amccann]

Young critters are amazing at healing. Feed him some ground up chick starter along with the scrambled eggs and obviously water. Given that he's able to get up and stand and walk around, that's a good sign. As for how to clean it - as long as he's in a fairly protected setting, keeping the wound moist with antibiotic ointment as you've been doing should do it, a big cleaning shouldn't be needed.

If it gets too gunky - a small syringe (like a 3ml or 12ml) gives a very accurate stream so you just get the wound and not the whole chick wet. Another good one is the monoject 412 syringe, which is what dentists give you after wisdom teeth come out, it's got a curved narrow tip - if you don't want to buy a box of them, maybe call a couple dentists and ask if they would sell you one (I imagine they'd just give it to you).

Fill a little bowl with warm water and a small amount of Dawn dish soap to clean - or iodine soap, we're talking like a drop of it here. Suck the diluted soapy water into the syringe, spray onto the wound -- Then once the old ointment is off, fill the little bowl with warm water, clean the syringe, and give him a rinse. Use something really soft like gauze or Charmin grade toilet paper- my very favorite "baby chick robe" material... to dry ... and reapply ointment.

Most chicks don't mind blow dryers as long as they can hide under your hand or a dry wash cloth if he gets wetter.

Thank you for your input! I did just as you suggested. We are still peeping this morning so we are taking it one day at a time!

 

[amccann]

I’m so sorry, I don’t have much input other than to keep him warm.

I believe you can feed him very small portions of scrambled eggs once a week to fatten him up a little.

Good luck with schrodie. Very creative name.
@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @aart @

Thank you we are giving Schrodie a shot because there seems to be quite a bit of fight in such a small bird.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

How’s he doing?

 

[Eggcessive]

Vetericyn wound spray, 2% chlorhexidene (Hibiclens 50%, water 50%,) and plain antibiotic ointment are best for wound care. Chicks can heal quickly, but it may have been pecked or hurt because the broody thought something was wrong with it. Hopefully, you can save the little one.

 

[amccann]

How’s he doing?

Eating, drinking, pooping, chirping and occasionally gets the zoomies and then passes out flat on the tummy in the heat lamp. I’m hopeful but trying not to be overly so as the odds are seemingly stacked against him