5wk chick having trouble pooping, red swollen vent - help!

[alandmark]

I posted this in the diseases section and haven't gotten any responses, so re-posting here:

I have a 5wk Delaware chick that's having a lot of trouble pooping -- it comes halfway out of her vent and gets stuck, and she peeps loudly like it really hurts. She's had pasty butt in the past, but seemed to have cleared up by week 2 -- had a couple with pasty butt and just kept washing them with warm water. There's nothing externally blocking the excrement -- I clipped back the down and feathers and have smeared olive oil several times. Problem seems to be worse in the morning. I've been running warm water over her vent and she eventually has a full bowel movement, but her vent is continually red and enlarged. Nothing internal is protruding however, so I don't think it's prolapse, and none of the other chicks seem to be picking on her. I've seen her eat and drink water, and she dove right in this morning when I sprinkled scratch and clover into the brooder for them. I've been giving them greens or berries every day in addition to their crumble. I've not been feeding any antibiotics or other medications. Temp in the brooder is about 70-75 degrees and she's with 13 other Delaware chicks on a pine shavings bedding. She's also quite a bit smaller than the rest of the chicks, and she keeps her feathers ruffled up more -- maybe because she's smaller the temp isn't warm enough? But would temp have anything to do with her blockage problems? I've been adding apple cider vinegar to their waterer every other day after reading that might help the acidity in their gut, but hasn't seemed to make a difference with her. I'm going to separate her with the one other smaller size chick and see if a warmer temp helps. Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Your chicks must have grit or sand if you are feeding anything other than chick crumbles. Get a small plastic container and put 4 to 6 inches of sand in it - the chicks will bathe and eat what they need - they will be in chickie heaven. Personally I give all my chicks sand starting on day 3.


Sand/grit is needed for the gizzard to properly grind food - allows for much better digestion.



I also feed grains - safflower, boss, millet, wheat, and oats to my chicks - it is my scratch.

 

[FireGurl26]

Thanks for the reply. My girl is doing great now. It seemed the combination of probiotic water and backyard grit seemed to help. She strains once and awhile but very rarely, but even then it only lasts like a second. She is very energetic.

 

[realsis]

I have given this probotic to my chicks and hens for years now. This has 10 million colony forming units of different benifical bacteria. Many many more than yougart. I buy mine online by searching ProBios for poultry. Sometimes tractor supply carries the small bottle. I get the large bottles because they last a very long time. Any issue with going to the bathroom are cured up rather quickly when i use this product. This probotic is the best probotic ive ever used! I highly recommend this if your birds are having issues! This product is a must have. I use it on newly hatched chick's and it jump starts their system. I use it on my hens to keep their digestive system healthy and on track. The benifical bacteria can actually combat bad bacteria thats introduced to their systems. You might consider getting some for your birds. It will REALLY help. Make sure to get the kind for poultry as they have it for many different animals. It will really help your flock. Im sure you will love this product! I know i do.!

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Do you offer yogurt as a treat...it might help with her digestion. The scratch might be your problem...do a search for scratch and see what is said about it.

Good luck.

 

[alandmark]

Thanks -- yogurt is a good idea. Today was the first day I threw some scratch in there -- it's just been grass, clover and lettuce prior to that.

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Did you provide grit or sand? Are the stools dry or moist? The yogurt would provide more moisture. I give my chicks mashed up banana which they love.

 

[alandmark]

Her droppings look perfectly normal, perhaps a bit large -- she's just having trouble passing them. But color is normal, brown with some white, and consistency is just like the other chicks' droppings. I haven't been providing grit yet -- they're still on chick starter. Is that something I should start offering them? I hadn't thought to give them banana, so I'll try that too.

 

[HerbiLady]

I'm not sure if it would make her have a hard time passing poo, but if they're getting any kind of food besides chick crumbles, they need to have some grit too. If they're ONLY eating crumbles, they don't need it but if you're supplementing with greens or other treats, they have to have it

At five weeks, chick crumbles only or not, I would have been introducing them to some grit unless they're outside and can get their own.

The added moisture from yogurt sounds like a good suggestion too.

 

[HerbiLady]

Ooops...forgot something!

I've read somewhere here on BYC that you shouldn't introduce grain until they're 8 weeks or so old. I could be wrong, but I think that's the commonly accepted age for grains.