2 week old chick with dirty butt & red bump that looks like hernia

[anjawray]

I have a polish chick that is about 2 weeks old. I noticed that her bum was dirty so I washed it with warm running water. It is clean now but while I was washing I noticed a clump of what I thought was also poo about 1/2 up her tummy from her bum. I cleaned it off and much to my horror discovered it was a scab of some sort that was covering a red bump that is about pimple size. It looks like a hernia to me but I truthfully have no idea what it is. Help!

 

[mypicklebird]

That is her 'belly button' aka umbilical area- where the yolk sac was attached, and was drawn into her body prior to her hatching. Keep it dry and clean, as it needs to heal. You can clean it off with dilute betadine & apply a small amount of topical antibiotic cream, as the small scab is no longer there to protect it.

 

[anjawray]

Oh...thank goodness! Thanks for your quick reply...now I know that she will be okay as long as I keep it clean.