My broody pooped on hatchling's head...

[kellyjeanne]

...I only saw two chicks of her three and then smelled something terrible. My broody had let out a huge poop and it landed on her hatchling's head and she was stuck in it. I cleaned it up, pulled her out, wiped her face, but her eyes are all white and she seems like she's struggling. I gave her water and she seemed to drink it. Then I gave her back to mama who pecked her gently a bit, seemed to be trying to clean her. She's now tucked back under, but I'm worried she won't make it or will be blind. Anyone experience this? I'm not sure how long she was in there, I don't think it was all that long though. I had just removed the dividers to let her have free roam of the coop a few minutes before and hadn't noticed anything at that point...so it may have been only about 5-10 minutes? Any advice?

 

[PD-Riverman]

...I only saw two chicks of her three and then smelled something terrible. My broody had let out a huge poop and it landed on her hatchling's head and she was stuck in it. I cleaned it up, pulled her out, wiped her face, but her eyes are all white and she seems like she's struggling. I gave her water and she seemed to drink it. Then I gave her back to mama who pecked her gently a bit, seemed to be trying to clean her. She's now tucked back under, but I'm worried she won't make it or will be blind. Anyone experience this? I'm not sure how long she was in there, I don't think it was all that long though. I had just removed the dividers to let her have free roam of the coop a few minutes before and hadn't noticed anything at that point...so it may have been only about 5-10 minutes? Any advice?

Not sure about the chick----might be got its inner eye lids closes.

Question, do you have feed and water for your broody hen to eat while she is setting on the nest?

 

[kellyjeanne]

Not sure about the chick----might be got its inner eye lids closes.

Question, do you have feed and water for your broody hen to eat while she is setting on the nest?

I haven't for the entirety of her brooding, I just put a dish of chick mash and a plate of water in when the chicks started hatching two days ago.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I haven't for the entirety of her brooding, I just put a dish of chick mash and a plate of water in when the chicks started hatching two days ago.

Chicks do not need food for the first 2 or 3 days because they are living off the egg yolk they absorbed. If you put food at the nest---the hen will eat it and if she eats she has to poop----if eggs are still hatching---most hens will not leave the nest----they just poop in the nest----really stinky, nasty poop. Out of 150+ hens I set in 3 years---I do not recall a one that pooped in the nest. No food or water is near my broodies nest. Each broody hens eggs are set at the Exact same time---none added later so they all usually hatch within about 24 hrs---then when they all have hatched she will get off the nest with the chicks to get them some feed. Good Luck

 

[kellyjeanne]

They've been all hatched since yesterday morning, so I figured it would be ok. I cleaned the baby up as best I could and have her inside in a heating pad resting and drying off. Her eyes seem stuck shut, but she's peeping loudly and seems to be a fighter, she's also drinking water when it's offered to her. Once she's all dried off, I'm planning to give her back to mama. I don't know what to do about her eyes, or if any of this is a good idea.

 

[PD-Riverman]

They've been all hatched since yesterday morning, so I figured it would be ok. .

Maybe I missed understood-----was the broody in the nest when she pooped on the chick?? If so can the hen get out the nest and go into the yard/coop/bigger area? Is there more eggs in the nest? Whats happening??

 

[kellyjeanne]

She was in the nest, she can get out, all the chicks are hatched. I washed and dried and warmed the chick as best I could, but I had to go to work and so I put her back under mama....but toward the front so she doesn't get pooped on again. The next time I'll be able to check is tomorrow when it gets warm enough for the chicks to be out. Hopefully she has recovered....but I feel like she's equally likely to be dead.

 

[PD-Riverman]

She was in the nest, she can get out, all the chicks are hatched. I washed and dried and warmed the chick as best I could, but I had to go to work and so I put her back under mama....but toward the front so she doesn't get pooped on again. The next time I'll be able to check is tomorrow when it gets warm enough for the chicks to be out. Hopefully she has recovered....but I feel like she's equally likely to be dead.

Maybe Not!! Good Luck!