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

[Robert G]

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.

It's little feet used to be all orange before this happened to it. Should I use some antibiotic cream on its feet?

 

[Eggcessive]

Unfortunately, the hen was pecking at the chick either because she thought something was wrong with the chick, or she is a bad mother hen. Either way, you need to raise the chick yourself in a brooder with a heat source. She may try to kill the chick if you put it back with her. I would get 1-2 other chicks the same age for friends if possible. A small mirror and a fuzzy stuffed animal might keep her company for a day or so.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Seconding the above, sadly. You need to keep the baby away from mommy if she's doing that. I would try, if the baby will let you, soaking the feet and gently washing them, and then putting neosporin. Put the baby on paper towel or cloth towel, not shavings, if possible. The brown almost looks like something liquid dried on there, not so much like bruises would look, but not sure. Either way, please brood this baby until s/he is better. Yes, if you can, get him/her at least 1 friend.

 

[Robert G]

Thanks for the information. I can't believe a mother hen would peck so much on it's feet. I'll also soak it's feet to see if those are indeed bruises. I'll also get it a mirror so it can have company. I don't want to take away the other chick from the other hen since it's her only one and she's being a good mother.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

Oooh I didn't know you had another mommy! YAY! Once the toes are better, you could sneak the baby under your other mommy during the night if you want! She might adopt this one. Can you separate the hennies so mama can keep her baby and maybe adopt this one? Or can you isolate the pecking mama? I know it's sad...some hens will kill their babies. If it's strange pigment though, mom may have thought she was trying to 'clean' something off the foot...but the fact that she lifted the chick in the air is scary. Better safe than sorry...

 

[Robert G]

Yes, I have a total of 5 mommies at the moment and 2 that are about halfway. I'm going to candle their eggs tomorrow to make sure they aren't spoiled. The heat down here has been crazy. 100 degree weather with the heat index around 105-109.

 

[Robert G]

I'm happy to report that my little injured chick is doing better, but it's feet are still a bit swollen. I was looking at the other chicks that hatched at the same time, and their feet are way thinner than his/hers. I did use some triple antibiotic cream on it and noticed the smallest toe is missing its tip and of course the nail.

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad to hear that the chick is better. Hopefully, it will have a complete recovery. Good luck.

 

[Robert G]

Yes, it looks good. He/she flaps his wings and hops around.

 

[Robert G]

He/she is sleeping already. Can't wait for it to heal completely.