URGENT NEW BORN CHICK BLEEDING!!

[tatiana916]

Just checked under my broody and she had 3 chicks under her but one had blood around her earlobes one worse than the other.
The bleeding has stopped and she's VERY lively and constantly cheeping

She's also got mites so I've dusted her down.

What do I do????

I've taken her out and put her in a box with straw under a makeshift heatlamp and keeping it to around a steady 30-32 degrees.

ANY ADVICE PLEASE!!!!
its my first time hatching chicks and have no idea what to do!

 

[Whispering_Raven]

How old are the babies? Meaning....When did they hatch?

 

[tatiana916]

today

 

[Whispering_Raven]

I wouldn't worry too much yet, but others with more experience than I may disagree. This may be a silly question, but are you sure the blood you see isn't part of the yolk? Hatching is a lot of work for those babies. I'm a bit confused by your original post...When you say you removed "her", are you saying you removed the chick? or the Mama? Do the chicks seem healthy?

 

[tatiana916]

thanks for the reply, its definitly injured, and we removed the chick, which is now in the box indoors. When I came home and peeked under her to check the first time not realising some had hatched, my broody wrestled away from the grip and although it didnt seem to bad, stepped lightly on one of the chicks, we checked them, everything seemed fine, then when we came out 10 mins later, the broody had feathers in her beak and the chick she stepped on was quite badly bleeding, the other chicks were fine, and still are under her now still fine.

I think she may have scratched the chick when wrestling away from me slightly, then pecked at the wound later.

the chick is still in the box, seems ok, and the temperature is stable, i just wanted to know if there is anything else I should do and when it should be fed some food or given water as it can only be 6 hours old max and I have read they dont eat or drink anything thier first day anyway.

 

[Whispering_Raven]

Well, of course two things...First your suspicion of mama stepping on her and giving her a scratch is probably a good guess. Since the baby did have some blood it's good that you removed it. Just make sure you keep it warm, around 90-95 degrees F. Not sure what that is C. Make some sugar water tonight, 1 pt sugar - 3 pts. water. Keep in mind the baby is not going to drink very much so I'd actually just make a cup of the water and keep it in the fridge. When it's right around a day old, give it some. You'll have to dip it's beak so it knows what it is. Do you have chick starter? It may or may not be hungry when you introduce the water but it's worth putting a teaspoon or so in a lid and showing it that as well. I use little lids from butter spread or yogurt or something for both food and water for the first few days, then I "upgrade"to small 3-4" planter bottoms.

If you want the broody to raise them, try to get the one you have back to her ASAP. If you can get the little one to drink tomorrow I'd put it back with mama and watch the reaction. This is the second...If mama starts pecking at it, it might be sick. Animals know these things more than we do. If the little one makes it overnight, that will be a good sign. Mama will teach her the rest if she takes it back. If not, you'll have to remove the baby again and try to raise it. If it's sick, it could take several days before you see a manifestation.

Hope this helps a little bit. Keep us posted!

-Tracy

 

[tatiana916]

thanks very much, you have been a really big help, we will keep you posted

 

[tatiana916]

She's got quite a big wound but she's still very lively. I don't think she'll be able to go back to mum as the wound is very red despite me cleaning off all the dried blood from her feathers.

She only has one eye open though. I'm going to try and clean it with some diluted eye wash. Or is it normal for a chick to have one eye open for the first 24 hours? She can only be a max 24 hours old.

Gave her some sugar solution and she took to it really well so I'll try her again in a few hours.
As for food shall I turn the crumbs into a mash or will she go onto crumbs when she's ready.

 

[Whispering_Raven]

Just read your update......I'm not awake yet! LOL. I'm glad it survived overnight. I don't know about the eyes, but if it doesn't seem to bother the babe, then I wouldn't worry yet. I would try the starter whole, because it's made very fine. The chick needs to learn how to eat. It still may not be hungry. Keep us posted! I need more coffee to comprehend!

 

[tatiana916]

Haha sorry different time zones I'm afraid. I'm in the UK and with all this excitement going to bed!
She's doing well I've given her sugar solution at least 3 times today and she's been drinking fine.
I've never had chicks before so I've got nothing to compare her to but she's not walking about much and very rarely will she open her one eye she keeps pecking around her as to try and work out what's there but apart from that she just stumbles around and is very unsteady on her feet. She does try and nestle into a hole whether its my cupped hand or a roll of flannel. She hasn't yet been able to work out where water is but I doubt she would be able to walk too far to get to it anyway.