Mom abandoned baby chick

[sydffish]

My chicken had a clutch of 15 eggs. 9 of the eggs hatched, so after 3 days she decided to leave the remaining eggs to explore with her chicks. She's been off her eggs for 1 1/2 days, and when I went to clear the remaining eggs I found one of the eggs had looked stepped on, the shell crushed into many pieces. Inside was a baby chick barley moving, and ice cold. I quickly brought it inside hardly breathing and put it under a 43 watt bulb which is the only light I have right now. How far should I hold the light because I don't have a thermometer today either being the stores are closed. The chick is dried up now and peeps when I pet and and squirms, but that's about all the movement it has.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

So sorry about this chick. You will have to brood it yourself. Hopefully it will survive having been so cold so long. Get the temp up to 90 to 95 degrees in the brooder. I would try to feed it warmed hard boiled eggs if it will eat. Eggs are great emergency food for babieis and can really jump start the. You might also put 2 heaping Tablespoons of sugar in a quart waterer. Dip the beak in so you know she is getting hydrated. Sugar can really get the blood sugar up as well. Lay down paper towels and sprinkle starter feed on the floor of the brooder to help her figure out where the food is for a couple days.

Lower the heat by 5 degrees each week for 6 weeks.

Good luck with this little baby. I hope the little on makes it!

 

[KristineY]

We had a first time broody toss one of her chicks out of the nest this year. He/she was ice cold and also not moving when we found it and had a gaping wound on the back. It took him some time to start moving because he had some physical injury from the ordeal I guess. After a week of TLC, though, he's healing up and doing great!

 

[drumstick diva]

You gotten some good advice about rearing the baby. You could give him a stuffed toy to cuddle with so he doesn't feel he is alone. He's going to need heat and food , and water to survive. You don't know how early he was hatched and mama ignored him.

If you can get some Polyvisol infant drops(NO IRON) at Walmart etc. give him 2 drops, 3 times a day. If he is eating anything (like finely mashed egg yolk) mix the drops into it. If he isn't eating use a dropper and just put the 2 drops inside his beak . He can decide to swallow or spit it out if he doesn't like it. A little sugar in water can give him a boost - since sugar is absorbed readily .

Keep him isolated from the others until he is doing well- otherwise they will just trample him and wear him out.

Please let us know how he is doing.

 

[gander007]

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with the chick.

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[chickie farmer]

Welcome to BYC.