One Week Old Chick with Bruised and Swollen Feet.....

[Eggcessive]

Looks like twins! Keep us posted on how she gets along.

 

[Robert G]

Day 3 of care and my little chick is doing a bit better each day. She loves playing with her reflection on the mirror. Hoping she will be well enough to let her out this weekend and wonder a bit with supervision.

 

[Robert G]

Day 4, chick is actively jumping around and scratching while eating. I also noticed the bruise/abrasions are starting to scab.

 

[Robert G]

Well my injured chick has recovered and been jumping out of his little brooder. So I took a chance and gave it back to his mom and watched her carefully and will keep doing so to make sure the mom doesn't injure it again. CPS (chick protective services) will be watching.

 

[Eggcessive]

Good luck, but I would be very nervous about putting the chick back with the hen. Is she still acting broody or sitting on eggs? Or is she getting around and showing the chick where to find food and water, or letting the chick get under her? Does she have other chicks with her?

 

[Robert G]

Good luck, but I would be very nervous about putting the chick back with the hen. Is she still acting broody or sitting on eggs? Or is she getting around and showing the chick where to find food and water, or letting the chick get under her? Does she have other chicks with her?

Yes, she was still acting broody. When I would feed her, she would still call her chick even though she didn't have one. Last night, the chick was under her. This is her only chick. This morning, I checked on her and the chick was still fine and she called it when I fed them.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

So yesterday evening while feeding one of my hens with 1 chick, I noticed she kept pecking at the chick's feet. There was even a time where she lifted the chick up by it's feet. I noticed the chick could barely walk and looked extremely stressed out. I immediately removed it and took it inside and inspected it. I noticed it had black bruises on its toes and they were all swollen. This morning it began to move around and is drinking water and eating. My question is, did the hen cause the swelling and bruising by pecking at it so much? Why would she peck at it's feet so much? Since I took her only chick away while it heals, would she take it back afterwards? She's next to another hen that has the same color chick and they sleep in the same corner but divided by the fence.
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It's little feet used to be all orange before this happened to it. Should I use some antibiotic cream on its feet?

I definitely would not put it back with the hen, sounds like she will kill it

 

[Robert G]

The picture I added yesterday are of them two and there hasn't been any bad behavior. I also checked on them this morning without any issues.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I definitely would not put it back with the hen, sounds like she will kill it

Also, maybe put it on paper towels and change them 3 or 4 times a day so it does not accidentily step in poo until her feet heal, at least baby chicks grow and heal fast! Can you put a little piece of hardware cloth and a source of heat next to the other hen with her chick, so she does not feel alone? Sometimes even baby chicks will pick another baby chick real bad if they see something different, maybe wait a few days till her feet are healed before putting her with any others, even other chicks Neosporin and Bactrim ointments seem to help things heal up faster Hope she will be OK

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

So the baby is back with Mama and doing well?!?!! YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!