My chick's story.

[Hankj]

Okay... We were hatching chicken eggs in my Environmental Science class and this chick was the first to break through the shell. Four days later it had not made much progress and we were worried it would starve. So I didn't like seeing that so I offered to take it home, to my father who was a chicken farmer in his youth. He broke part of the shell off, just a small amount, and he made some progress. Few hours later, a little more, more progress. One leg got out and that's as much as it got for the rest of the night.

My dad said, if it can't make it out, its not meant to be. I don't think like his farmer attitude and I believed it should have a chance; We help babies that can't make it out of the womb, right? So I helped its remaining leg out and freed its neck and head of the remaining shell. It didn't do much movement at first and there was still shell stuck around its eye and the right leg stuck out, not under.

My father told me to put a rubber band around its knees and that would fix the leg, I did that and I came home last night and it had the rubber band off and was walking, leg is much closer to normal position. I removed the egg shell from it's eye, but it still won't open the right eye. Also, the neck is kind of crooked to the right, where it was in the shell. And the last thing, it doesn't open up its toes, or talons, it just kind of walks with them curled under.

What else can I do for it?

 

[Imp]

Here's a thread about curled toes and how to treat.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=51112

The crooked neck might need vitamins.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=221617

Good luck

Imp

 

[Laurajean]

I'm not sure what to do for him other than to keep doing what you're doing. It sounds like you are doing your best for the little guy. Good for you! If he still doesn't live after you gave it your best, THEN it was meant to be. But then you'll know you did your part. Good luck to you and the chickie.

 

[Hankj]

Think you very much imp. I was trying to think of something like those little slippers because the rubber band worked. And I did buy some vitamins to put in the water today actually see if it will help.

Any advise for the eye that won't open?

Also I bought this "bird bath" stuff that safe for all birds and I don't know if he enjoyed it very much, it was just a spray, and seems to be very slow drying. Is this bad for him or any other ways to bath him because a lot of the egg stuff stuck to him.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Try wiping the eye with warm saline, then apply a topical anti-biotic like neosporin. Make sure that it does not have any caine type pain reliver in it like lidocane (it's toxic to birds)

I don't know about the spray. You could gently wash with warm water. dry with a hair dryer on low and be sure to not let it get chilled. (or burn it with the dryer)

Imp

 

[Hankj]

Saline like for your contacts? Or actually make a water and salt solution?

I got those little slippers on him and he walks, but he seems pretty ticked lol, I might have them on too far up? Do they walk on their toes or more of their foot?

 

[Imp]

Quote:
I'm not sure about contact solution.

Try 2 teaspoons salt in 1 quart distilled water or boiled tap water. stir until dissolved completely.
Keep the boots on for a few days. if he pulls them off just make new ones, keep on till the toes are no longer curled. And stay uncurled.
Chickens walk on their feet not on their toes, but his feet may be a little stiff to start.

Imp

 

[Hankj]

Okay, well I'm gonna try to shorten the little slipper a bit closer to the size in that photo and see if he calms down lol.

 

[debilorrah]

Imp has great ideas, and we would love to see pics. I have before and after for a chick glued in the shell too. Her name is Elmer. I love that stinkin bird.

 

[PoultryPedia]

If you bathe him, gently towel-dry him while holding him closer-than-usual (but not too close) to the heat lamp. You can also use a hair blow-dryer set on low, or a space heater.

Waterless hand sanitizer (the kind that is sort of like a gel and often comes in the same kind of pump bottles as liquid hand soap) can be good for cleaning off some kinds of gunk. It stings if you get it on scrapes or in eyes, though, so be careful!

You can also read more about chick shoes and treating splayed leg in the webpage linked in my signature below.

Good for you, helping out the little guy!!