2 wk old chick straining, squawking, and unable to defecate

[splitsquawk]

Hi all,

I have a 2 week old chick that has been struggling to defecate the past few days. She is the only one of 8 having this issue. I noticed when I heard her squawking in distress whenever she tried to defecate (and it came thin, as though something is really swollen inside).

I have been doing daily epsom salt baths with her and massaging the area gently to see if it can loosen anything up. I also have been covering it with A&D ointment and a dab of honey. I have been trying to hydrate her with wet starter and a mix with unrefined virgin solid coconut oil.

It’s only gotten more swollen and harder for her to pass stool. Is there anything I can do at this point or should I put her down? I don’t want her to suffer. I’ve had chickens in my life for a very long time, but have never seen anything swollen like this in a chick (I’ve seen pasty butt before, but not this).

Any advice is appreciated.Thank you in advance!

 

[splitsquawk]

Here’s some pictures. It’s also extremely smelly when it comes out (more than a normal poop)

 

[GuineaMania]

@Eggcessive @Debbie292d

 

[Debbie292d]

Are they getting only their chick crumbles? If so, perhaps she ate some shavings or something. If not, get some grit in a dish for them.

What I'd do is first though is give her a little molasses in her water. Put about a teaspoon of it in a quart of water and have that be her only water source for a half of a day. I wouldn't let the others have much as it might give them the runs, and I wouldn't leave it for her more than a few hours to make sure she got some.

I'd also get some probiotics going as that helps with digestive issues. We have Hydro-Hen and Durvet brands here, but any powdered probiotic for water is easiest.

Her swolleness may go down on it's own once she gets regulated, but if not, I've used generic Preparation H before and it worked wonders on a prolapsed vent of a chick I had here.

 

[splitsquawk]

Are they getting only their chick crumbles? If so, perhaps she ate some shavings or something. If not, get some grit in a dish for them.

What I'd do is first though is give her a little molasses in her water. Put about a teaspoon of it in a quart of water and have that be her only water source for a half of a day. I wouldn't let the others have much as it might give them the runs, and I wouldn't leave it for her more than a few hours to make sure she got some.

I'd also get some probiotics going as that helps with digestive issues. We have Hydro-Hen and Durvet brands here, but any powdered probiotic for water is easiest.

Her swolleness may go down, but I've used generic Preparation H before and it does wonders.

Yes, she’s only on chick starter. The chicks are on raised on rice hulls (no savings). I’ll start her on molasses water and get some chick probiotics and Prep H in town tomorrow. Thank you so much. I’ll let you know how it goes

 

[Eggcessive]

I would soak just her vent area in warm soapy water for a few minutes, and try to empty her swollen vent. Chilled coconut oil cut into tiny pieces to peck at can also help to soften her poops. How warm is her brooder?

 

[C Siena]

Yes, she’s only on chick starter. The chicks are on raised on rice hulls (no savings). I’ll start her on molasses water and get some chick probiotics and Prep H in town tomorrow. Thank you so much. I’ll let you know how it goes

Can she ingest the rice hulls? even part of them? If so, she may still need a little grit. The others answering know better than I.

 

[splitsquawk]

I would soak just her vent area in warm soapy water for a few minutes, and try to empty her swollen vent. Chilled coconut oil cut into tiny pieces to peck at can also help to soften her poops. How warm is her brooder?

Is there a trick to emptying the vent to make her poop? I’ve tried massaging the area to try and stimulate some movement after an epsom salt soak.

I’m using a heat pad for this flock of chicks for the first time (I always used a heat lamp before this), just because of fire safety concerns/seemed more efficient. I’ve been slowly raising it as they grow taller. Besides her swollen vent, she keeps up with the other chicks and actively scratches in the rice hulls with them.

 

[splitsquawk]

Can she ingest the rice hulls? even part of them? If so, she may still need a little grit. The others answering know better than I.

I’ve seen them all ingest rice hulls (as chicks sometimes would with shavings), but the others seem fine.

I have been sprinkling chick grit in their feed since their first few days and around in the brooder since they get so invested in “digging down” to the bottom of the brooder to look for things to peck .

I clean out the brooder regularly, but the rice hulls are pretty good at absorbing moisture and drying out feces immediately