5wk chick having trouble pooping, red swollen vent - help!

[Mama_Chicken]

Just curious if the chick recooperated! I have a 3-4 week old chick that is experiencing the same symptoms. I haven't given mine anything but their medicated feed, other than yogurt just yesterday. I think my chick is a Buff Cochin Bantam, but am not positive as they were in an assortment of bantams. It's the same size and kind as one of the other chicks, been in the same brooder, eating the same things. The chick did have pasty butt 2 or 3 times, but I was able to catch it right away. I noticed yesterday that its vent was severly enlarged and seemed to be throbbing. It was straining to poo.... and the poo it actually go out was waaaay bigger than normal. After it got that out it seemed to be straining again, but nothing came out and you could still see poo in the vent. It's soft, normal looking poop, though. The chick seems fine, not lethargic, eating well, and is quite active. For now.

I'm thinking about isolating it and giving it some sort of laxative. I still have some of the Save A Chick. Should I put that in the water too? Is yogurt enough or should I give it something else, too? These are my first chicks, so I'm a little nervous trying anything!!!

 

[Jack Sparrow]

I'm having the exact same thing with a 3 week old Delaware chick. She is the same size as the other 25 chicks, has no problem eating (just chick starter) and drinking (water with vitamins and electrolytes). Her vent is swollen and the opening is quite large. When she tries to poop she cheeps really loud (I assume it hurts). I make sure there is no poo stuck on her and today I put a tiny bit of antibiotic ointment on a q-tip and rubbed it inside and outside her vent.

I'm subscribing to this topic so I can see if there are any other suggestions.

If I give yogurt, should I put grit in the brooder?

 

[Sarahlee91]

Hey there,

I am having the exact same situation with my 4 week old Delaware. The red swollen vent and having trouble going to the bathroom. My chicks have had chick grit for 2 weeks now with their crumble and some grass I started throwing in last week, but only the one Delaware is having this problem. I am getting worried. Is an Epson Salt bath a good idea?

 

[Sarahlee91]

Oops sorry I meant Epsom Salt.

 

[Jochick]

I have a chick with the same problem. Please let me know how to help mine get better. She is a 2 week old copper maran.

 

[rides2far]

I've read molasses can cause loose stools. Maybe a little bit might help if she's plugged up. Can anyone else help. Maybe put this thread back on Diseases/Emergencies forum.

 

[JoycieBoycie]

I know this is an old thread, but has anyone had any resolution to the problem?

I am a new chickie momma and my chick started having this issue at 2 weeks old. She's only a few days away from being 3 weeks old now. I've been giving her yogurt, warm starter feed mash, I've used Prep H and/ or coconut oil on the vent, I clean her vent every time she poops, but there just seems to be no real progress. I also give her molasses water, ACV and honey water through out the day; and then sometimes just plain water or ACV water. Nothing helps. She's always been the sleepier and less chipper chick, but overall, she appears okay. The poop looks normal, but it just BIG, it won't come all the way out, and makes her vent protrude. She chirps every time she poops, like it hurts. The only way she can get her poop to come out if I don't get to her in time is for her to pick it out with her beak.

I've read thread after thread and taken every suggestion, but nothing is working. Anyone know what to do or what the root cause is? I figured that if I kept giving her fluid; like I have been doing, it would thin out. I was on the verge of taking her to the vet, but I figured they'd tell me to do all the things that I've already read.

Feeling at a loss for my poor Prissy

 

[realsis]

Poor baby. Have you tried adding a probotic to her water? It will introduce beneficial bacteria to her system and it should help balance it out. However sounds like your baby may have more of a internal issue. Possible blockage inside her. Probotics could help but likely she needs a vets care if at all possible. Hope she gets well soon. Good wishes

 

[JoycieBoycie]

Poor baby. Have you tried adding a probotic to her water? It will introduce beneficial bacteria to her system and it should help balance it out. However sounds like your baby may have more of a internal issue. Possible blockage inside her. Probotics could help but likely she needs a vets care if at all possible. Hope she gets well soon. Good wishes

Thank you, I have given her probiotics with no luck still. I was thinking that its an internal problem as well and she needs to see a vet. I plan to try and get her to the vet tomorrow.....I hope, fingers crossed. She's always been the sleepiest one out of the bunch, maybe she's fighting somesort of infection. I don't want to lose her. People tell me she's just a chicken, but no life is a "just" to me.

 

[realsis]

I completely understand. I love animals so much and my chickens are my family.I even love each and every one of my new chicks like family.I will pray for your little chick. Hopefully it is something easy to fix that maybe we overlooked. Please keep us posted as I'm curious what the doctor says. I'm thinking she may have some stool that's hardened further up inside her and hopefully he can give her a softener to pass it. I'm praying it's not serious!