Rough situation and need help!!

Amreid

In the Brooder
Jun 3, 2021
24
14
26
To make a very long story short, we have one surviving chick out of 4 eggs. We were trying to let the hen do everything naturally in the coop and I peeked in after 2 chicks were born to find one dead, 2 smashed eggs with little chicks, and one that was severely injured. One of our non broody girls invaded the nest and made a horrific mess. I removed the injured chick and tried separating her and my broody hen but after my broody pecked at the chick, I removed her and made a DIY brooder and have her in the house. The chick was born sometime overnight between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. I'm unsure of the exact time. At 2pm Thursday when I peeked in, the chick was fine. At 5pm Thursday was when I removed the chick from the coop. She has a very bad gash on her back as of she was pecked at. I was researching as much as I could in little time and followed advice on rinsing the wound with peroxide, then I covered it with bag balm. The feed store was closed so I couldn't get the supplies that I read about. Friday morning she seemed to be doing great. A little fighter she is! I went to the feed store first thing and the owner sold me "Blue Lotion Spray". Now it is Saturday, it's been exactly 48 hours since I've removed her from the coop and anywhere from 60-70 hours since she hatched. She appears to be getting weaker. She isn't running around the box like she was before. The only way that I can get her to drink is if I drip water off of my fingers and she will drink it off. I tried a syringe but she doesn't seem to like that much. I have chick starter crumble and she seems to just peck at it then drop it. I've tried getting it more mushy like a paste and she will take a few bites then seems to lose interest. Now I have almost made a powder out of some of her food to see if she can eat it easier and I made a gallon of save-a-chick electrolyte to try giving her. I've left her alone for the last hour to try to let her get some rest but I'm worry about needing to get food into her. Is the few pecks of food here and there enough to sustain her? Any advice on what else I can try? I don't want to force feed her because it would require restraining her and I don't want to injure her back even more. Her skin is so thin and fragile. I've read to try an egg yolk and she took a few bites/drinks of that then wouldn't try it again. Also any advice on the wound care? Should I let her rest and if so, for how long? How much does she have to eat to sustain? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!! I'll attach pics of her wound. Thanks to all!!
 

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Thank you for reading!!! I'm using a 250 watt heat lamp with the red bulb. My thermometer under the lamp shows 95. I looked for vetericyn at Tractor Supply today when I picked up the electrolyte and they didn't have any. We don't have a lot of options where we are at and I would drive further to get something but Id hate to leave her alone for 3 hours.
 
I do hope she pulls through. The mash and electrolytes are a good thing. I hope she starts eating soon.
Sometimes, there is something wrong with the chick and momma can sense this, momma will kill the chick.
Other times, other chickens will kill the chicks if they can get to the broody.
No matter why this happened, it isn’t your fault, nature can be frustrating and unfair. I wish I had powers to save all animals and that they can live a lot longer than they do.
Positive thoughts are coming your way.
 
Thank you so much for all of the kind words and reassurance!! She will take about 10 drops of water and 5 or 6 bites of food every hour then she lays down to rest. Is this enough to keep her going and try to get healthy?
 
2x @CluckerFamily Vetericyn is my 'go to' for wounds after the initial cleaning with peroxide. Just learned Vetericyn has a optical solution too. Neosporin without the pain is another substitute, Amazon has Vetericyn.

You can try mashing some boiled egg yolk with the wet mash ... You're doing all you can yet there are times no matter how much we do, Nature will take it's course. :hugs:fl:hugs
 
Thank you all! I will definitely track some vetericyn down tomorrow and order some from Amazon tonight so I'll be covered either way! It's reassuring to know that she won't starve from as little as she is eating. Thanks to all, again!!! I really appreciate it!!! I'm kinda freaking out because I don't know what else I can possibly do to help her so I had to ask!
 
Thank you all! I will definitely track some vetericyn down tomorrow and order some from Amazon tonight so I'll be covered either way! It's reassuring to know that she won't starve from as little as she is eating. Thanks to all, again!!! I really appreciate it!!! I'm kinda freaking out because I don't know what else I can possibly do to help her so I had to ask!
Vetericyn is a bit expensive, but it is 100% worth it. You will use it continually for future issues. Keep doing what you are doing. I’m wondering if someone would know if sugar water or vinegar water would possibly perk the baby up? Just tossing out the additional question.
 

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