What do I do - Emergency Chick problem listed on chicks forum

[mobius]

So sorry to hear

 

[cow whisperer]

If I would've been able to get my neighbor's to assist me when I asked maybe I would have had a better chance of keeping it alive but nope they wouldn't help because of the stupid dumb stuff I did years ago ( criminal record).
Maybe I'm not cut out to be a farmer after all.

 

[MommaHen2Many]

Dont do this to yourself!! You have a heart of gold trying to save that little one. I've pulled maggots off an injured wild baby rabbit before...its not fun...you were doing what you could. I am so sorry that it didnt make it, but thats not on you! You reached out, asked for help and did what you could. I had to put a little chick down this week who hatched with what appeared to be a neurological deformity--I really cried--and it's still hard. hang in there!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

If I would've been able to get my neighbor's to assist me when I asked maybe I would have had a better chance of keeping it alive but nope they wouldn't help because of the stupid dumb stuff I did years ago ( criminal record).
Maybe I'm not cut out to be a farmer after all.

I'm so sorry to hear about your chick. Please do not feel disheartened. Unfortunately life throws curve balls. It sounds like you did what you could. That's all any of us can do. Many of us have had sad experiences with our chickens and livestock. Use this experience and knowledge for the next time an issue arises.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm so sorry

You did everything you could for the little one, sometimes even with our best efforts they don't survive.

Now....where's the Mama hen and the other chicks, they may need you, so see if you can find them and check them over.

 

[cow whisperer]

I found her and them. She's NOT allowing me to close to these babies because I stole the other one from her.
The wound on the underside of that baby's wing was too full of those little maggots plus it was too deep but if I would've been able to get some assistance from my neighbor's or one of my family members wife I think the wound would have been completely cleaned and stitched up.
I know here in a little bit I'm going to find that thread for the animal first aid kit. Are the items listed in it safe to use on all sorts of animals? I have cows, and cats (inside cats) so I'm going to need a first aid kit for all.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It may be hard to find products that can be used on them all.
Cats are completely different, so you will need to do some research on what can be used on them. Since they groom themselves often, the worry would be that they ingest topical wound care products.

For chickens, lets get you a basic first aid kit list - I'll list some of the more commonly used products that people use on chickens - again, you would need to determine what can be used on the other animals.

• Triple antibiotic ointment (Plain/Original Neosporin or store brand - nothing that has "pain killer" or has a "caine" in it). This can be used on cuts, scrapes, wounds, a good general purpose wound treatment.
  
• Betadine - this can be used to flush wounds, added to bath water to soak.
• Epsom Salts - added to a bath - use it to soak legs, feet, to flush wounds, can help reduce swelling in certain situations.
• Vetericyn - considered top of the line wound care - but it's expensive.
  
• Blu-Kote - this is also a good general wound antiseptic - that can be applied to cuts, scrapes - for large wounds, it would be better to use a triple antibiotic ointment.
  
• Saline - you can find recipes to make your own - if making your own, you want to put it in a sterile glass jar and use it up in 12-24hrs. Make a fresh batch daily. Saline can also be purchased at the drug store.
  
• Gloves
  
• Scissors
• A dish pan - if you don't have a place in the house to wash/care for wounds or sick animals.
• Vitamins - poultry vitamins are very good to have on hand - I personally prefer Poultry Nutri-Drench, but Rooster Booster Poultry Cell or another brand of poultry vitamins would be good too.
• Electrolytes- these can be purchased (Sav-A-Chick) or you can make them yourself. Diluted Gatorade can be used as well. Electrolytes should be used sparingly - only give in the first 4-8hrs to a chicken that is in shock, injured, etc.(then switch to vitamin water or plain water)
• Heating pad - have a dedicated heating pad just for your chickens - this can be used to make a "cave" for chicks, or you can place sick chicks on top of it if necessary - monitor the amount of heat so your chick doesn't get too hot.
• Old towels, cut up t-shirts, etc. these come in handy for all sorts of things.
• A large tote or kennel - this is a good place to house your sick bird.
• Vetwrap
• Gauze pads
  
• Plain flour, cornstarch, arrowroot (thanks @mobius ) any of these can be used as blood stop

You don't have to have all these things at one time - this is just a general list to give you some ideas. Most of us accumulate things as we go. So you get the most "bang for your buck" I would have the triple antibiotic ointment, saline (or recipe to make it), epsom salts and vitamins on hand. It depends on what stores you have access to as well....I sometimes run across things like Vetwrap and gauze pads at the Dollar store, so I might pick up a package and add it to my kit.

Hopefully others will add to the list or give you some info what they use on cats, dogs and cows.

 

[cow whisperer]

Let's see I have gloves, scissors, dishpan, homemade electrolyte solution, old towels/cut up t-shirts, gauze pads and flour ( and corn starch). For right now I have a small cat carrier which will hold small young fragile babies.
I guess I'm doing okay with aquiring items for a first aid kit.
I also have tweezers ( lots of them so it's not going to hurt or harm me to put 1-2 pair in the kit. I'm even thinking about purchasing the plastic kind of tweezers)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sounds like you have a very good start!

I forgot alcohol - this is good to use for sterilizing/cleaning your tweezers, scissors, etc.

Cat carrier will work just great for small birds

 

[cow whisperer]

I keep alcohol on hand. Never know when it's going to be needed or how much is going to be used at one time. LOl