So here I am constantly monitoring my kids, telling them to be very careful when handling and holding the chicks because they are babies and very fragile... when last night I drop one while holding it in my hand! She jumped right out of my hand, I'd say about 4 feet off the ground, right on our tiled bathroom floor.
She fell on her side and I immediately scooped her up and noticed her panting and gasping for air. I figured maybe the wind got knocked out of her...? She was still gasping for air for a few minutes while I was holding her. She even closed her eyes and began kicking. It was such a sad sight! I wrapped her up in a (dry) washcloth and held her really close to my body. A few minutes later she started breathing normal and opening her eyes. I even heard an occasional peeping. But when I set her down she would only lay on her side. I kept her with me still wrapped up and close to me for warmth for over an hour before I decided it was time to put her back under the heat lamp. I put her in a seperate tiny box to keep the others from messing with her.
5 hours later I went to check on her and she still seems unable to bear much weight on her legs. I tried to let her out of the box to eat and drink, but she didn't seem very interested. She is still very tired looking. And I didn't want to leave her out of the box since the others were running all over her. I did notice in a few droppings in the box, so I know she's still pooping.
Could she still be in shock? Has anyone had this happen and the chick survive? I feel so awful!
She fell on her side and I immediately scooped her up and noticed her panting and gasping for air. I figured maybe the wind got knocked out of her...? She was still gasping for air for a few minutes while I was holding her. She even closed her eyes and began kicking. It was such a sad sight! I wrapped her up in a (dry) washcloth and held her really close to my body. A few minutes later she started breathing normal and opening her eyes. I even heard an occasional peeping. But when I set her down she would only lay on her side. I kept her with me still wrapped up and close to me for warmth for over an hour before I decided it was time to put her back under the heat lamp. I put her in a seperate tiny box to keep the others from messing with her.
5 hours later I went to check on her and she still seems unable to bear much weight on her legs. I tried to let her out of the box to eat and drink, but she didn't seem very interested. She is still very tired looking. And I didn't want to leave her out of the box since the others were running all over her. I did notice in a few droppings in the box, so I know she's still pooping.
Could she still be in shock? Has anyone had this happen and the chick survive? I feel so awful!