4 wk old chick blocked up butt

[khelsher]

really gross, I know. But the poor thing does not look good. Her butt is red and sore with all feathers picked out. the poop has crusted all around. I cleaned it out yesterday with warm water and actually she pooped and pooped. this morning it was clogged again. I repeated the treatment but it appears to help only temporarily.
What the heck could be wrong?
This same chick also has a big bulge on it's chest. It is soft like a big air sac or blister. I have no idea if it is related to the butt problem or a separate issue.
thanks for any suggestions.

 

[jag]

Awww.

What are you feeding her? I started them on Blue Seal Chick Starter (medicated because that's all they have) and I had to clean a lot of pasty butts at first. I read in Storey's Guide To Raising Chickens to add raw uncooked old fashioned (not quick oats) oatmeal to the mix, which I just whizzed up in my food processor to resemble the same 'cut' as their chick starter, added it to the chick starter and it helped immensely! No more pasty butt. I started out at about 50/50, but took it down to a ratio of about 75% starter to 35% oatmeal. Lately I've been doing just starter and they are all fine!

The bulge on the front, if she is eating okay, is probably the crop and it's just full.

HTH!

 

[MTchick]

You can force feed her a little bit of molasses to help her have more normal bowel movements. I'd keep her away from the other chicks- sounds like she is getting picked on pretty badly. Also, cleaning her a few times a day for the next few days is probably to be expected- poor little thing.

-MTchick

 

[justusnak]

I would clean her bum really good, and make sure it is dry...then slather it with vaseline. It will keep the poo from sticking. But...for sure...seperate her for a few days.