Open navel chick strong, what should I do?

[Eden83_haaretz]

So I went into the hen house and found a new born chick far from the nest, still alive (I guess the other chickens got it out), didn't notice it's navel hadn't closed appropriately so I put it under a broody hen, went back after 20 minutes and saw she wasn't covering it well. I took it from her and noticed it's belly... So what should I do? It's really strong, it chirps and moves around, but don't know if this is fixable... Will it die? Should I try and do something? I'll pots a pic.

 

[sourland]

I'd slather it with antibiotic ointment, try to keep it clean and hope for the best. Good luck.

 

[Eden83_haaretz]

I'd slather it with antibiotic ointment, try to keep it clean and hope for the best. Good luck.

Should I do that just once or often?

 

[coach723]

You should reapply the ointment as neccessary several times a day to keep the area covered and moist.

 

[Eden83_haaretz]

You should reapply the ointment as neccessary several times a day to keep the area covered and moist.

Ok so I'm wondering if maybe the navel did close and it just has a sort of pale looking belly... I can see the yolk sack which I haven't seen yet in other chicks. It doesn't have anything moist sticking out, no intestines... Don't know. It is incredibly active, chirps a lot; tried to give it to some of the broody hens and they didn't seem to want him. In the mean time I have no incubator, put it in a box in the toaster oven and it climbed out, doesn't want to be away from a living body.

 

[coach723]

You will need to set it up in some kind of brooder with a heat source. I can't really tell clearly what may be going on, but it would be best to not have another chick or other bird peck that area and open something up. If there is not another chick to put with it (that may be why it's chirping so loudly, they don't like being alone, you can try putting a mirror in the brooder so it can see 'the other' chick. Sometimes a small stuffed animal can be comforting, make sure there is nothing that can be pecked off and ingested. If it will tolerate it, I sometimes carry them in a kerchief around my neck, like a tiny hammock, so they rest on the upper part of the chest. They can hear you talk or hum, feel your warmth, the contact can calm them. If the chick isn't warm enough, that can also be a cause of loud chirping. If it's eating and drinking and pooping, then I'd say it has a chance. If it makes it through the first week, that's positive, if it makes it through the first 3 weeks, it may do ok.

 

[Eden83_haaretz]

You will need to set it up in some kind of brooder with a heat source. I can't really tell clearly what may be going on, but it would be best to not have another chick or other bird peck that area and open something up. If there is not another chick to put with it (that may be why it's chirping so loudly, they don't like being alone, you can try putting a mirror in the brooder so it can see 'the other' chick. Sometimes a small stuffed animal can be comforting, make sure there is nothing that can be pecked off and ingested. If it will tolerate it, I sometimes carry them in a kerchief around my neck, like a tiny hammock, so they rest on the upper part of the chest. They can hear you talk or hum, feel your warmth, the contact can calm them. If the chick isn't warm enough, that can also be a cause of loud chirping. If it's eating and drinking and pooping, then I'd say it has a chance. If it makes it through the first week, that's positive, if it makes it through the first 3 weeks, it may do ok.

Great advice thanks, yeah yesterday I ended up sleeping with it, it slept though the night fine. Yesterday it had it's eyes open, but I put it under a broody hen and it stepped on it momentarily, so I took it away. And after that it kind of makes a pooping sound when it breathes... I guess it just has terrible luck.
What should I try feeding it? I used to make a corn masa, mashed beans and tuna mix for another chick I raised, she turned out fine, but maybe there's something better?
I'm also somewhat worried it has sprawled legs, it opens them too much, but maybe that just has to do with it's belly problem?

 

[coach723]

The best thing you can feed it is some balanced chick starter feed.
If the belly is enlarged that may be why the legs are wide. If it can walk, it's probably not splay leg.

 

[HawkMtnChicks]

I'm following this thread as we are having the same problem. Is there a special chicken antibiotic ointment that you use?

 

[Eden83_haaretz]

That's a great question, didn't think about it. Now I'm wondering the same thing, I used an antibiotic ointment from a first aid kit.
The chick seems to be doing better, it's got lots of energy, has some difficulty swallowing water that I've given with an eye dropper. Discovered it had pasty butt a few hours ago so I treated it and it pooped fine a bit after that. Now it's sleeping soundly under my hand. It's belly hasn't changed, looks dry but fine (it dried over night; I keep wondering if this will be a healthy functioning animal even with this...)
Has it happened to anyone that they reach adulthood?