allone01
Hatching
Hello Everyone-
I am new to the forum! I have done a bit of reading, and not so sure if there is anything else to do about this struggling chick, but thought it couldn't hurt to ask and share the situation.
So I have a broody hen who hatched 9 chicks, and still had a few eggs left to hatch. Two days ago when I made it out to the coop in the late afternoon, I found one hatched chick, dead, one stuck in the fully enclosed membrane but dead, and one who hatched and was still alive. It looked to be pecked in the head a few times and was bleeding from its ears too. I assume it was the ravenously hungry 1 week old baby chicks who pecked it and also ate the shell off the chick who was stuck in the membrane.
Anyway... So I brought the chick up to the house and fed it molasses water. Seemed to be doing alright, kept that up for the day, was standing by night-time. I put it back under the mother for the night, and picked back up with the molasses water this morning. It has made little progress; ate a worm, and will peck at the dirt here and there. It can stand, but it can barely walk. I have been putting it back in the run with the mother and baby chicks off and on today. None of them are bothering it, but it is just standing there, pecking occasionally, but mostly swaying its head low, then back up, and just hanging on...
Just wondering if there is anything else I can do for it? I understand it might not make it and that's just how it is, but I am willing to help it along if I can. I was thinking of giving it spirulina mixed in water...
Thanks!
I am new to the forum! I have done a bit of reading, and not so sure if there is anything else to do about this struggling chick, but thought it couldn't hurt to ask and share the situation.
So I have a broody hen who hatched 9 chicks, and still had a few eggs left to hatch. Two days ago when I made it out to the coop in the late afternoon, I found one hatched chick, dead, one stuck in the fully enclosed membrane but dead, and one who hatched and was still alive. It looked to be pecked in the head a few times and was bleeding from its ears too. I assume it was the ravenously hungry 1 week old baby chicks who pecked it and also ate the shell off the chick who was stuck in the membrane.
Anyway... So I brought the chick up to the house and fed it molasses water. Seemed to be doing alright, kept that up for the day, was standing by night-time. I put it back under the mother for the night, and picked back up with the molasses water this morning. It has made little progress; ate a worm, and will peck at the dirt here and there. It can stand, but it can barely walk. I have been putting it back in the run with the mother and baby chicks off and on today. None of them are bothering it, but it is just standing there, pecking occasionally, but mostly swaying its head low, then back up, and just hanging on...
Just wondering if there is anything else I can do for it? I understand it might not make it and that's just how it is, but I am willing to help it along if I can. I was thinking of giving it spirulina mixed in water...
Thanks!