6 day old chick w/ wet, swollen rear end

[MrRedandCrew]

Hello! I am new here and have questions/ concerns about my 6 day old chick. She was hatched by a broody hen in the coop and I have let her stay out there since she's been thriving. Tonight I got home from work and her little butt is wet, stinky and very swollen. Vent looks to be protruding a bit also. It's not just her rear that's swollen, it's her abdomen too. I'm guessing she's backed up pretty bad. I've used a warm wet rag to wipe away as much pooh as possible and tried to gently message swollen area in hopes of moving things along. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[laceynoelle]

Sounds like she might have gotten pasty butt. There is a video here I just found on youtube.

If the video doesnt play on the forum, here is the link

It sounds like you're doing pretty well, but just follow up like this lady suggests, and you should be good.

 

[MrRedandCrew]

Thank you! I thought PB too, but don't understand that wet, swollen abdomen. It's also damp with wetted feathers down. Any thoughts?

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like omphalitis, an infection from birth. Normally it is usually in incubator-hatched chicks though. Click here for some info: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mushy-chick-disease-yolk-sack-infection-omphalitis

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is another link with a picture (picture # 2): http://www.vdl.umn.edu/prod/groups/cvm/@pub/@cvm/@vdl/documents/asset/cvm_asset_350829.pdf

 

[laceynoelle]

Ohhh! I've never even heard of that, I'm glad you were here. I actually had a chick die from that this spring, but I thought it was just some sort of hatching problem.

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually it is an e.coli or staph aureus infection from birth, maybe from an egg that was soiled.

 

[Michael Apple]

LS-50 (lincomycin-spectinomycin) water soluble powder is very effective against E. coli. Dosage is 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5-7 days. I wouldn't recommend injections on a 6 day old chick. Perhaps you could separate the hen and her chick and let them drink that solution. It wouldn't harm the hen. Then give vitamin-mineral powder with probiotics for three days after treatment.

 

[MrRedandCrew]

Thank you everyone for your input. I put her and mama in our spare bathroom tub and started her on antibiotics, electrolytes and scrambled egg for probiotics. I have been cleaning her rear 2-3 times a day and have decided it is probably just pasty butt. She seems to be quite a bit better. Depending on how she is tonight, I may return her and mama to the coop so the others don't get too used to them being away. Thanks again for all the advice!!