Wounded 3 Week Old Chick

[chalidobrenz]

I'm a first time chicken keeper! I had one baby die at just 4 days old of coccidiosis after trying desperately to keep her alive. Now, I've got a 3 week old little white crested polish (Helen) who just yesterday got a little cut on her foot somehow. The other chickens are relentless. They obsessively pick and pick her poor little foot, so I've got her separated from the flock, but she is still able to see everyone to avoid too much stress. I've tried Blu-kote, No-more-pick, and plain Neosporin. She is still isolated from the other chicks, but she isn't putting much weight on her wounded foot. She is eating and drinking, and the area isn't swollen. Unfortunately I cannot see the actual wound itself because, well, it's purple now. The wound seems well controlled, but she is sleeping a lot and still not putting much weight on the foot. Is this just her body healing, is she bored/stressed, or am I going to lose another baby?! This chicken biz is stressful!

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Are you using a red brooder lamp? Those tend to hide red wounds to help prevent picking, although you may not need the 250 watt light. BluKote should help. Can you find out how her foot was cut? Do you have a metal feeder--some have sharp edges. Four day old chicks usually don't get cocci, but a 3 week old can--does she have any symptoms of it?

 

[chalidobrenz]

She doesn't have any symptoms and the whole flock was treated with Corid Solution. Her droppings are normal and she is eating and drinking. She just doesn't move around much because she won't put much weight on it. She's not peeping much either, again I'm assuming because she's not very mobile. The cut is very streamline, like a paper cut, and appears to be on the top of her foot. There are little gnared marks where the other birds pecked her before we found her. Those aren't bloody at all. She doesn't cry or freak out when I wash it and pat it dry. Which is why I'm confused. She won't put weight on it but she doesn't mind pressure. It doesn't look infected. Maybe I'm being paranoid because I already lost one. But for just a little cut I wouldn't expect such sleepy behavior. I do have a metal feeder. I didn't think of that. I'll have my husband dull the edges so no one else gets hurt. Poor little Helen. I'm doing my best to help her.

 

[chalidobrenz]

We do have the red light, also. They are ruthless. I'm worried if we keep her separate for too long, they'll pick on her forever.

Welcome to BYC.  Are you using a red brooder lamp?  Those tend to hide red wounds to help prevent picking, although you may not need the 250 watt light.  BluKote should help.  Can you find out how her foot was cut?  Do you have a metal feeder--some have sharp edges.  Four day old chicks usually don't get cocci, but a 3 week old can--does she have any symptoms of it?

 

[chalidobrenz]

 

[azygous]

Have you thought of Vet Wrap? Maybe you could cover the wound with it enough to camouflage it. Make sure you keep it moist. That is crucial for healing.

Have you examined the bottom of her foot real well? Also the shank? Look for greenish bruises.

I hate to be negative, but infection may be a factor why she's behaving the way she is. You need to prepare for the possibility of losing her.

Also, have you considered partitioning off an end of the brooder with window screening or hardware cloth? That way she can be close enough to the rest to interact, even sleep near them since they will probably bunch up next to the partition to be near her. This was the case with a wounded chick I had. They all would pile up next to the screen and she could benefit from their closeness and body heat.