My 2yo squeezed my chicks - HELP!

[angelami4]

A friend and I went in together to order 25 chicks from McMurray Hatcheries. They just came in Monday morning. I picked my 6 chicks up from her Tuesday morning when I got back in town. I had gotten 3 Barred Rocks & 3 R.I. Reds. We brought them home, set them up in the storage tub with bedding, water, and food. I checked on them all day and twice during the night. This morning I was cleaning up my room (opposite end of the house) while my girls (5yo and 2yo) were watching a movie. I didn't hear them leave the living room and by the time I realized that they were WAY too quiet, it was too late. I went to find them and found them in the back room where the chicks were being kept. 3 of the chicks were already dead. 2 were injured. The last one seemed to be fine. Of the two injured chicks, one of them died within 20 minutes after. I talked to the girls, cleaned them up (bathed my 2yo) and put them in time out. I then went back to see what I could do with the injured chicks. One black chick seemed completely fine...I couldn't see any signs of being injured and she's up and moving around, chirping and acting scared but normal. 1 Red and 1 black chick were injured but alive. The injured black chick died soon after however, despite trying to keep her warm and safe. She didn't seem to be able to stand or move very well. She finally flopped around a few times just before dying. Both the injured chicks have the skin split from the vent toward the front about a half inch long. It's a straight split. The red chick is up and moving but I'm really concerned about her. She also has something hanging out of her vent by a thin string of whitish tissue. I'm not sure what it is. It's reddish in color. I feel horrible about it happening and I'm just not sure what to do. These are my first chickens and I was really looking forward to having 5-6 chickens laying eggs. My dad was planning to come help me build a fenced in run and small covered area for them to roost at night this weekend. Is there anything I can do to help this injured baby chick? As tiny as she is, can I do anything without causing more trauma? I'm not even sure that I should try to clean and try to close the wound. I talked with the girls several times yesterday about not going in the chickens' room and not handling the chicks without me there. They knew they shouldn't have gone in there and I'm not sure what possessed them to sneak in there or why my 5yo didn't come get me when my 2yo squeezed the first chick to death.

 

[satay]

The girls must have been excited about the new chickens and wanted to give them a cuddle. Unfortunately at that age it is hard for them to resist temptation. You will have to put a lock on the door or move the brooder to a place they can't reach. I am sorry for the loss of your chicks.

 

[satay]

You can get some baby vitamins to put in the water. Some without iron.

 

[angelami4]

What kind of vitamins do I need to look for? Can I get these at Tractor Supply? They're about the only place around here with chicken stuff...There's co-op about 30 minutes from me that might have more but I'm not sure. Thanks!

 

[emrys]

Poly Vi Sol without iron. I think it's a childrens vitamin. Could your friend take back the healthy chick and raise it for you for a few weeks? Maybe sell you one or two of hers? When they get a few weeks older and ready for the pen your father is going to help build you could get them back.

 

[ChicknThief]

I am so sorry for your loss. Hopefully this was a good lesson for your little girls.

Chickens are amazingly resilient creatures. With proper care, the injured ones may make it. It would be helpful to post pictures. We may get a better idea what the best course of action would be from them.

 

[angelami4]

Sorry the image quality is so horrible. All I have is my phone and there's not very good lighting in the room where I have my brooder. You can see where the skin is split open and her abdomen is uncovered. She has a little ball of red tissue hanging from her vent on a thin white string of something. I couldn't get a good picture of that. I would really appreciate any help you can give me! I was not expecting to need to deal with all this...especially so soon after getting my first chicks! I feel horrible about it!

 

[ChicknThief]

Hmm... Unfortunately, I can't see well enough at all from those pictures. Is there any chance you might be able to take others?

I think I can see where the skin is split. If you are very VERY careful not to get any in the vent, you can try using liquid bandage to keep the lips of the wound together.

 

[Mifarm]

A friend and I went in together to order 25 chicks from McMurray Hatcheries. They just came in Monday morning. I picked my 6 chicks up from her Tuesday morning when I got back in town. I had gotten 3 Barred Rocks & 3 R.I. Reds. We brought them home, set them up in the storage tub with bedding, water, and food. I checked on them all day and twice during the night. This morning I was cleaning up my room (opposite end of the house) while my girls (5yo and 2yo) were watching a movie. I didn't hear them leave the living room and by the time I realized that they were WAY too quiet, it was too late. I went to find them and found them in the back room where the chicks were being kept. 3 of the chicks were already dead. 2 were injured. The last one seemed to be fine. Of the two injured chicks, one of them died within 20 minutes after. I talked to the girls, cleaned them up (bathed my 2yo) and put them in time out. I then went back to see what I could do with the injured chicks. One black chick seemed completely fine...I couldn't see any signs of being injured and she's up and moving around, chirping and acting scared but normal. 1 Red and 1 black chick were injured but alive. The injured black chick died soon after however, despite trying to keep her warm and safe. She didn't seem to be able to stand or move very well. She finally flopped around a few times just before dying. Both the injured chicks have the skin split from the vent toward the front about a half inch long. It's a straight split. The red chick is up and moving but I'm really concerned about her. She also has something hanging out of her vent by a thin string of whitish tissue. I'm not sure what it is. It's reddish in color. I feel horrible about it happening and I'm just not sure what to do. These are my first chickens and I was really looking forward to having 5-6 chickens laying eggs. My dad was planning to come help me build a fenced in run and small covered area for them to roost at night this weekend. Is there anything I can do to help this injured baby chick? As tiny as she is, can I do anything without causing more trauma? I'm not even sure that I should try to clean and try to close the wound. I talked with the girls several times yesterday about not going in the chickens' room and not handling the chicks without me there. They knew they shouldn't have gone in there and I'm not sure what possessed them to sneak in there or why my 5yo didn't come get me when my 2yo squeezed the first chick to death.

I know this was a long time ago- but can you share what ended up happening to the chick? I think we may be in the same situation. :/

 

[Weeg]

I know this was a long time ago- but can you share what ended up happening to the chick? I think we may be in the same situation. :/

Hello @Mifarm, I'm sorry about your chicks. These member are likely not the respond as they haven't been online since 2013. I would highly suggest going to the ER section of this forum and making a thread. Then experienced members will be abel to help you. I hope your able to help your babies!