- May 7, 2010
- 10
- 1
- 24
I posted this in the diseases section and haven't gotten any responses, so re-posting here:
I have a 5wk Delaware chick that's having a lot of trouble pooping -- it comes halfway out of her vent and gets stuck, and she peeps loudly like it really hurts. She's had pasty butt in the past, but seemed to have cleared up by week 2 -- had a couple with pasty butt and just kept washing them with warm water. There's nothing externally blocking the excrement -- I clipped back the down and feathers and have smeared olive oil several times. Problem seems to be worse in the morning. I've been running warm water over her vent and she eventually has a full bowel movement, but her vent is continually red and enlarged. Nothing internal is protruding however, so I don't think it's prolapse, and none of the other chicks seem to be picking on her. I've seen her eat and drink water, and she dove right in this morning when I sprinkled scratch and clover into the brooder for them. I've been giving them greens or berries every day in addition to their crumble. I've not been feeding any antibiotics or other medications. Temp in the brooder is about 70-75 degrees and she's with 13 other Delaware chicks on a pine shavings bedding. She's also quite a bit smaller than the rest of the chicks, and she keeps her feathers ruffled up more -- maybe because she's smaller the temp isn't warm enough? But would temp have anything to do with her blockage problems? I've been adding apple cider vinegar to their waterer every other day after reading that might help the acidity in their gut, but hasn't seemed to make a difference with her. I'm going to separate her with the one other smaller size chick and see if a warmer temp helps. Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
I have a 5wk Delaware chick that's having a lot of trouble pooping -- it comes halfway out of her vent and gets stuck, and she peeps loudly like it really hurts. She's had pasty butt in the past, but seemed to have cleared up by week 2 -- had a couple with pasty butt and just kept washing them with warm water. There's nothing externally blocking the excrement -- I clipped back the down and feathers and have smeared olive oil several times. Problem seems to be worse in the morning. I've been running warm water over her vent and she eventually has a full bowel movement, but her vent is continually red and enlarged. Nothing internal is protruding however, so I don't think it's prolapse, and none of the other chicks seem to be picking on her. I've seen her eat and drink water, and she dove right in this morning when I sprinkled scratch and clover into the brooder for them. I've been giving them greens or berries every day in addition to their crumble. I've not been feeding any antibiotics or other medications. Temp in the brooder is about 70-75 degrees and she's with 13 other Delaware chicks on a pine shavings bedding. She's also quite a bit smaller than the rest of the chicks, and she keeps her feathers ruffled up more -- maybe because she's smaller the temp isn't warm enough? But would temp have anything to do with her blockage problems? I've been adding apple cider vinegar to their waterer every other day after reading that might help the acidity in their gut, but hasn't seemed to make a difference with her. I'm going to separate her with the one other smaller size chick and see if a warmer temp helps. Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
