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

[Leighe]

So cow whisperer.....wanted you to know that that chick was incredibly lucky you found her. Her last moments were spent with someone loving her, cleaning her, talking to her, keeping her warm and just pouring out their heart to her. Had you not found her, her end of life would have been incredibly hard....cold, shivering, maggots eating on her. You, yes YOU, made a difference. Sometimes we make a difference in minutes, hours, days, weeks, years. We never know how long we will have a relationship with some person or animal. You have now been exposed to something that has helped you to gain knowledge. As far people not helping you and possibly judging you.....the beauty of animals is they show unconditional love. They need you to feed, water and love them and in return they just love.....good job cow whisperer.

 

[cow whisperer]

I really thought it had a had a good chance seeing how it was fighting to stay alive.
Leigh, your words really touched me. Maybe me shed tears I wasn't releasing.
Yes, i understand this is what happens on a farm but it's still difficult to deal with. If I would have paid more attention when I first noticed it earlier in day it probably would have had a better survival rate seeing how I could have gotten someone over here to help.
I feel like I didn't do enough for it, like I did everything wrong (used peroxide to clean wound, poured baking soda on wound to stop bleeding, etc).

 

[Leighe]

I really thought it had a had a good chance seeing how it was fighting to stay alive.
Leigh, your words really touched me. Maybe me shed tears I wasn't releasing.
Yes, i understand this is what happens on a farm but it's still difficult to deal with. If I would have paid more attention when I first noticed it earlier in day it probably would have had a better survival rate seeing how I could have gotten someone over here to help.
I feel like I didn't do enough for it, like I did everything wrong (used peroxide to clean wound, poured baking soda on wound to stop bleeding, etc).

I have learned a lot in 3 years of raising chickens (a ton of it from BYC) and I still can't save them all. I pray you will get to the point where you are not playing the "If only" head game with yourself. Ultimately its not your call when one lives or dies, but it is our responsibility to try, if there is a way for us to help. I've had chicks that I knew there was nothing I could do for them except provide warmth, soothing words, kindness, love. Doesn't make it any easier and I cry EVERY SINGLE TIME. But I have learned to accept the fact that I don't know everything, that doctors in hospitals with vasts amount of knowledge can't save every patient, that there are just too many variables (like something wrong inside the chick, possible brain damage, organ damage, things I can't see, or has been so weak can't recover.....I think the hardest ones for me are when it seems they are going to live, they are up eating, drinking, hanging out with the other chicks and the next day or day after I find them dead in the coop. I just want to learn and help when I can. You have gained knowledge from this and the next chick will benefit from your knowledge....keep learning...there is power in knowledge. BTW, there are people on this site that have raised chickens for 20 or more years and they still lose some.....nobody here has a 100% cure rate.....

 

[Leighe]

Oh, and I don't know if you're doing it or can do it, but I count my chickens every night when I go close them up.....if one is missing, I shut the others up and go looking. Sometimes I've found them, sometimes not, and sometimes they are standing by the door of the pen waiting for me the next morning. Goodness they can make you lose some sleep, lol

 

[cow whisperer]

I know that seeing how there's been a time or two where a hen has gotten left out of the coop at night.
Sometimes I do attempt to count them but they move so much it's hard to know which ones got counted and which ones didn't.

 

[mobius]

Awww see now you are getting prepared, starting a good first aid kit (what amazing suggestions) it doesn't have to cost a lot of money, thinking about counting chickens ( I count mine on the roost at night when I lock them up)...you are now better ready to take care of your flock. Leigh's message nearly brought tears to my eyes as well....we learn and you may become an expert able to advise others in the future...you didn't cause her death, you took care of her in her hours of need.

 

[cow whisperer]

I'm very sensitive or try to be when it comes to animals. I really shouldn't but each and every time something happens to one of the animals I take it to heart.