4 week old Serama having trouble pooping

[PennyM16]

Hi guys-

my 4 week old Serama is having trouble pooping- I checked for pasty butt and it doesn't look like that, her vent looks fine and I can't see anything on the outside, but when she poops she looks like she is straining quite a bit, and stays squatted for 30 - 60 seconds which is a bit longer than normal... She also goes a lot more frequently, sometimes 3 - 4 times consecutively. Please help! Is this normal??

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have had a few throughout the years that seem to struggle to poop during that first month or two. They eventually got better. I have never figured out the reason for it. I even had one in my last batch that would cheep loudly in distress every time it pooped. It's doing okay now. Hopefully yours will resolve after a bit too.

 

[PennyM16]

I have had a few throughout the years that seem to struggle to poop during that first month or two. They eventually got better. I have never figured out the reason for it. I even had one in my last batch that would cheep loudly in distress every time it pooped. It's doing okay now. Hopefully yours will resolve after a bit too.

I hope so, too! Mine doesent cheep when she poops but I noticed she cheeps super loud whenever she rubs her preening gland

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi guys-

my 4 week old Serama is having trouble pooping- I checked for pasty butt and it doesn't look like that, her vent looks fine and I can't see anything on the outside, but when she poops she looks like she is straining quite a bit, and stays squatted for 30 - 60 seconds which is a bit longer than normal... She also goes a lot more frequently, sometimes 3 - 4 times consecutively. Please help! Is this normal??

I hope so, too! Mine doesent cheep when she poops but I noticed she cheeps super loud whenever she rubs her preening gland

Can you post some photos of the chick, the poop and her preening gland?
What are you feeding her?

 

[Eggcessive]

How hot is the temperature where she is kept? Are you using a heat lamp with a thermometer on the floor of the brooder? Is she drinking enough water? I would mix a little chick feed with a lot of water to get more fluid into her. A few pieces of coconut oil may be helpful to lube the tubes. Put a little coconut oil in the fridge to chill and chop a few pieces or chips that she can peck at.

 

[PennyM16]

How hot is the temperature where she is kept? Are you using a heat lamp with a thermometer on the floor of the brooder? Is she drinking enough water? I would mix a little chick feed with a lot of water to get more fluid into her. A few pieces of coconut oil may be helpful to lube the tubes. Put a little coconut oil in the fridge to chill and chop a few pieces or chips that she can peck at.

I'm not using a brooder, but she has a buddy to keep her warm. They're closure Is nice and insulated as well.
OK, I'll try that

 

[PennyM16]

Can you post some photos of the chick, the poop and her preening gland?
What are you feeding her?

Ill try and get some later- I feed them a variety of things, like little nibblets from food I'm eating or scraps from the kitchen, but their staple is chick starter.

 

[CatWhisperer]

Happens to me when I eat too much cheese! Poor baby.

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm not using a brooder, but she has a buddy to keep her warm. They're closure Is nice and insulated as well.
OK, I'll try that

What is the air temperature there? Seramas need to be kept warm, and usually require a heat source until feathers are grown in around 6 weeks. If it is cold she might need heat after that, and cold can also cause problems with pooping. It also could be that she isn’t eating enough of the chicken feed or drinking enough water. Just some things to think about....

 

[PennyM16]

What is the air temperature there? Seramas need to be kept warm, and usually require a heat source until feathers are grown in around 6 weeks. If it is cold she might need heat after that, and cold can also cause problems with pooping. It also could be that she isn’t eating enough of the chicken feed or drinking enough water. Just some things to think about....

The temp is around 70 and she does eat and drink quite a bit