Trying to save a baby chick.

[Chicksnmind]

I had to assist a chick out of the shell yesterday. It was positioned wrong with a foot up around and behind its neck. It really should have stayed in its shell longer to absorb the veins but it didn’t pip (couldn’t) and it was cheeping. So I opened it up? It was facing the wrong direction. After letting the chick sit overnight the membrane Started to get tough. So once I helped loosed around the face and moved the leg from behind its head with it came out.

So while it had absorbed the yoke it had a squishy belly and bleed a little. I had cornstarch on hand and stopped the bleeding.

Today it’s pretty much the same as it came out. Lethargic and couldn’t walk. Toes a sort of curled . Chick just slept. Went and got SaveAChick products and within a short amount of time it’s holding its head up and trying to scoot around. Slept some and then I gave it more water mix. Now it’s chirping wanting in with the others between naps . Still it can’t seem to walk.

Belly is less squishy. There is also like a little knot/ swollen part behind its head where it’s leg had been squished behind its head.

Do I need to put it in some sort of sling or wait longer for the belly to firm up a bit more? It’s much better than yesterday.

 

[micstrachan]

Hi there,
I have never hatched my own chicks, but I feel you might need to put her back in the incubator to warm her up properly? Is she eating or drinking anything at all?

 

[Chicksnmind]

Chick is under the heat lamp. It’s not cold and has dried off.
I’m giving SaveAChick probiotics and electrolytes ( which is really helping.. it couldn’t hardly stay awake at all before I gave them)by dipping its beak. The last couple of times it’s tried with some help to dip it’s own beak. It just weak and can’t walk properly and can’t hold its head for long before it has to nap again.

I will try to do a video tomorrow.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

When you assist it takes them 2-3 days to really recover. After that if it's still having trouble I put a small piece of pipe cleaner wire around their legs to help them for a couple days if needed.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

What really pepped mine up was really sugery water. Then I put a little chick feed and the sugery water together in a little fish food lid. It really works like magic.

 

[Chicksnmind]

What really pepped mine up was really sugery water. Then I put a little chick feed and the sugery water together in a little fish food lid. It really works like magic.

I will try adding sugar to the SaveAChick mix. I’m not sure if I can get it to eat a mash yet .

 

[Ms Clucky]

One of mine had to have very gentle physical therapy. We moved it's legs and toes and head a little at a time. The other chicks that was maybe a week or two older helped us out with it. They let it peck feed off their backs until it got stronger. I would let its belly get better. It's the little silver sebright behind the black one that is looking at the camera

 

[Chicksnmind]

This morning is looking even more hopeful. It’s attemping to stand for a few seconds and drank unsupported The sugar water with save a chick is really helping . Thank you .

It still has dried cornstarch on he/she but I don’t want to put it through the stress of getting clean at this point.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

That's great! Try some sugar water mash too and that will give it even more energy. I'd put another chick with it when you try the mash. When the other chicks are excited about it, it draws their attention to want to eat.

 

[chickens really]

Electrolytes and sugar water is not to be used too long because it's hard on the heart. Just the first drinks and then fresh water.