Newly hatched chick not doing well

[dinabean]

I had 2 chicks hatch 3 days ago. The one chick is very tiny, didn't have its feathers fluff out, chirps all day and night. has trouble standing on the one leg (which also has curled feet), and has a red/blackish lump on his underside protruding past his body. I thought he was just the runt but he seems to have more going on. I don't want him to be in pain. I'm just unsure on what to do.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

chirps all day and night.

In my experience these are failure to thrive chicks who aren't connecting with feed and essentially slowly starving once their yolk is used up. I would cull.

Otherwise... crushing the feed extra, run your finger through and try to encourage pecking. Poultry Nutri drench in the first drinker and direct dosed to the beak for any like this... though they often fail as soon as I switch to plain water. I try to give them a fighting chance.

You might be able to find a companion chick for the other one at the feed store.

 

[Henriettamom919]

@EggSighted4Life gave you great advice! I've seen remarkable turn around from those simple steps but in the event there's no improvement we can walk you through a painless form of euthanasia that just puts the baby to sleep before it passes (all told takes about a minute).

I'm so sorry; I truly hope some nutridrench and time give it a fighting chance!

 

[dinabean]

I was afraid I would have to cull. Now he is just laying on his side because he can't use his leg. (which I'm going to try to bandage now and I separated him because the other one is stepping all over the little guy. I will try nutridrench but when I try to get him to eat or drink he does not. I even have a sponge I tried to get him to peck (the kind used for elderly sick patients). I would like to know how to cull painlessly if it comes to that. I just feel like hes in pain right now

 

[Henriettamom919]

I was afraid I would have to cull. Now he is just laying on his side because he can't use his leg. (which I'm going to try to bandage now and I separated him because the other one is stepping all over the little guy. I will try nutridrench but when I try to get him to eat or drink he does not. I even have a sponge I tried to get him to peck (the kind used for elderly sick patients). I would like to know how to cull painlessly if it comes to that. I just feel like hes in pain right now

You'll need to put a drop right in his beak initially. Do this every 8 hours. Try offering some electrolyte water from a small syringe and drop the liquid right in his mouth if you can.

To cull humanely:

Take a mason jar and lid or Ziploc bag and place paper towels wet with cold engine starter fluid in bottom. Place chick inside and seal. The fumes will put the baby to sleep long before oxygen becomes an issue and will quickly depress breathing until he just stops.

It probably won't take more than 90 seconds but you can leave the room and check back at two or three minutes.

I'm so, so sorry

 

[dinabean]

Thanks for all your help. I'm going to try, he does seem to be standing now. I appreciate all the advise. I needed it

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thanks for all your help. I'm going to try, he does seem to be standing now. I appreciate all the advise. I needed it

I hold the chick in my hand with beak facing the bend in my forefinger. Drip right below the nostrils using my bent finger to direct the beak to the drip. They usually gobble and swallow when it rolls around into the mouth. I do it every half to 2 hours.

Air displacement is a common method of euthanasia and work well for many folks. For chick this small, I wrap in a paper towel and use kitchen sheers over the trash can. A quick full snip in the neck area... usually result in cervical dislocation. Very rare does it ever fully decapitate.

 

[dinabean]

Update. I had him separate and he was standing, ate a little and even drank from the sponge But before bed he was on his side breathing heavy. I wanted to see what happened in the morning but he didnt make it through thr night. Poor little guy. Thanks again everyone

 

[Henriettamom919]

Update. I had him separate and he was standing, ate a little and even drank from the sponge But before bed he was on his side breathing heavy. I wanted to see what happened in the morning but he didnt make it through thr night. Poor little guy. Thanks again everyone

I'm really sorry to hear that You did the best you could for the little guy!