BackYardChickens Forum

To hot and not enough protein.  Get you actuve culture yogurt and feed to them mixed with their feed.  Take away one of the heat lamps.  Quit using sugar.  Also boil some eggs and feed to them.

I just experienced the same problem. One Araucana chick, which we got from a feed store a few days ago was already a bit smaller than the rest. Today, we found she had a large blockage on the outside of her vent. I picked it off and cleaned her up, but I'm concerned about a dark mass under the skin just up her chest past the vent (general area circled in red):


I suspect there is still some poo stuck in there... any ideas on how to help her pass it? Or is this just some other organ showing through her light skin? I'd appreciate any feedback.

p.s. The other 5 chicks are doing fine.

owlwithpeas and mallan I think what your seeing it where the cord was attached...

OP:  take away the sugar water they don't need it if they are doing fine. Their water should be given at room temp.  Cold water lowers internal temps in new chicks.  Use a warm wash cloth, warm water to get poo off then use a qtip and olive oil and rub some around the vent and surrounding area.

When I have chicks that get pasty butt, I put some sand in with them, it clears the pasty butt up. I just put in a lid off of a jar and they will eat it when they want. It works great for me.........

As has been posted, sugar water is only to be used to get their energy level up right after being shipped.  It should not be given more than once.  Give them chick starter and feed them some scrambled egg.

The other posts seem to be talking about their navel.  It's a dried bump, may even still be a red bulb.  Don't pick at it.  If it bleeds, apply iodine to help it dry.