Chick With Broken Foot

Normallly, I do only one post every other Saturday, but today I am adding a second post about a little Rhode Island Red chick that has come to the Little Bit of Paradise Farm.

Baby chick needed a buddy to snuggle
with, so a toy lion worked.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2016

Isaiah 43:20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland...

Sometimes God send humans to provide and help His creatures. Adding another chick was not planned. Yesterday, when I went to a farm store to purchase some chicken items, I was surprised to see newly hatched chicks this late in the season. Of course, I had to go look, because they are so cute.

Being an animal rescuer, I notice things about or with animals that others don’t necessarily see. In one of the large tanks that housed the chicks, I saw one chick with her leg out in front, toes curled under. I knew something was wrong. I got an employee who has helped me with chicks before. He said something was broken. I offered to buy her to get her some help, but he couldn’t sell her because the rules (not the farm store’s rules, but state rules) of needing to buy at least six chicks at a time.

Although, I am a rule follower, I do realize that sometimes the rules are wrong for certain situations. When an animal is in need of medical help and someone is willing to put the time and money into helping, then there should be alternatives for said rules.

Why is there such a rule? It is because of people who think chicks, baby bunnies, and ducklings make great Easter presents – buy one and give it to their kids who mangle the poor creatures. Animals are not Easter toys or presents!

[How could a newly hatched chick end up with a broken bone(s)? Chicks can be mailed as long as they can get to the destination within 2 days. A chick can go without food that long because they are still absorbing nutrients from the egg. Unfortunately, the USPS and other shipping companies are not 100 percent careful with packages. I know from talking to employees that packages get thrown around, even packages marked with “Live Animal Inside.” I’ve heard some horror stories.]

I continued my shopping. As I was walking to the front to pay for my items, the same employee saw me and said, “Come on, I’m going to sell you that one chick.”

“What about the rules?”

“I spoke to my boss and told him I was going to sell her as a single chick. And he just looked at me.”

We walked back and I quickly spotted her amongst the many dozens of other chicks. The employee packaged the chick and wrote the info on the carrying box. I said, “What if they give me trouble up front?”

“Tell them, Brian said it was okay.”

Thanks Brian!

My grocery shopping was shot for this trip. I had to get the little chick home, get her hydrated, and get her some medical care.

Having been a former licensed wildlife rehabilitator, I wished I knew how to take care of the break, but I had taken care of injured and orphaned squirrels not birds. To get the chick help quicker, I called a wildlife rehabber I knew who specialized in small birds, as well as many other creatures. (The local farm vet isn’t open in the mornings.)

At least with my rehabber’s training, I knew of some first-aid things to do.  First, I knew the chick needed hydration. She couldn’t walk to the water or food dishes in the tank she’d been in. I also knew of a homeopathic remedy to give her to help with the injury and any pain. I’ve seen homeopathic remedies work wonders on animals.

I spoke to the rehabber on the phone. She wasn’t sure if the chick could be saved. She said if the chick had lost circulation, there was no hope. I asked her to at least try and to take a look. She agreed.

It would take a little over an hour to drive to the rehabber’s. With the circulation issue crowding my thoughts, I quickly sent a text to some friends to pray that the chick’s circulation was good in the leg and foot. I also prayed, determined that I wasn’t going to let negative thoughts take hold. Then, we started the drive.

I had put the chick in a nest of toilet paper to hold her in place and to cushion her while driving, but each bump in the road made me wonder if she was okay. She didn’t do the typical chirping.

Once we arrived, I held the little girl as the rehabber checked her foot, leg, and hip area. I was barely breathing - waiting and wanting good news.

“The circulation is good,” the rehabber said.

Wow! Thank you, Lord!

The little "shoe" made from cardboard to straighten the
chick's foot bones.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2016

The chick was fitted with a “shoe” for her broken foot. I was instructed on how to cut new shoes, how to fit it, and how to tape it on, as this would need to be done if the shoe got soiled and as the chick grew. But the rehabber was worried about the chick not putting up a cheeping fuss.

Home we went and the fussing began along the way. Yeah! I had to be careful of my speed. I didn’t want a speeding ticket on top of the now expensive chick. Yes, I paid the full price $2.99 plus tax for a broken chick, and added a donation to the rehabber for helping, plus my cost in gas.

Now able to stand, but wobbily. Muscles
need to strengthen in her hip area.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2016

Still the chick wasn’t out of the woods, so to speak. Dehydration can kill baby animals and birds quickly. I worked all afternoon into early evening to get the chick to drink water from an eyedropper – rehydrating her with each drop. I also mixed organic plain yogurt with organic chick started to start her food.

At 7:35pm, I heard little cheeping sounds; I went in to check on the chick. She wanted to eat, and I helped - holding a spoon of food up to her little beak. About an hour later, chirping sounds brought me back to check again. She was eating - on her own.

Wow, what a great sign. This is still a critical time for the little chick, but with each passing hour and each improvement, her chances of surviving increase. 

Light for warmth, food, and water in smaller dishes for
safety reasons.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2016

As with Pippin, this little chick could also use your prayers for healing and strength. Sh still has a long road to recovery with lots of 'ify' things along the way.