2-week old chick has large swollen tummy - UPDATE, NEED HELP

[Cherlyn]

Tummy is soft to touch, and quite swollen. Seems to be acting normally.

Any ideas?

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Are you sure it is the tummy and not it's crop?

 

[Cherlyn]

Yup, it is down more towards the vent, rather than up towards the crop.

~Cherlyn

 

[Matt A NC]

Mushy chick. This happens when bacteria of some sort gets in through the ambilical before it has time to close and dry. It takes 1-3 weeks from hatch for the infection to build up for symptoms to actually show.

Most of the time you will lose the chick, but if you want to try and save it then you will need antibiotics. Terramycin at 3 teaspoons per Gallon of water is one of the possible treatments.

It might be a good idea to treat any that hatch with that one. If it managed to pick up bacteria then other may have been exposed.

Matt

 

[ShaggysGirl]

sorry no idea. At least she is acting ok. I'd keep an eye on her to see that she eats, drinks and poops. Maybe someone with more knowledge will pop in with and idea.

 

[Cherlyn]

Quote:
Shoot. Yeah, I bet you are right. I do not have any sort of antibiotics - all I have is yogurt.

And I sprayed a wee bit of Neosporin spray. She/he is acting just fine - normal bowel movements, eating and drinking, chirping, etc etc. I will take her to the vet first thing on Monday.

~Cherlyn

 

[Cherlyn]

Chick now has at least one mass in her tummy. Thoughts?

Taking her into the vet this evening to see if she can get some antibiotics to combat any potential bacterial infection.

~Cherlyn