Advice for chick's swollen vent? UPDATE message #13

[Engteacher]

I have a one week old blue splash cochin with a vent that looks inflamed. It's red and protruding, so I washed it gently and then dried him under the heat lamp. I put some vaseline on him and then set him back in with the others. He started pulling at his backside which drew the attention of the others who were pecking at his vent in no time.

I set him into the mailing box as a way of keeping him safe and then set the box back inside the brooder so that he would be safe but still in with his buddies. I know they're looking at him through the box's vent holes. I put some food and water in there, too.

Is there anything else I can do? These are my first babies and I could use some advice or reassurance.

 

[debilorrah]

You done good!!!! If the chick can see the others, it will be ok, but you need to keep it isolated until the swelling goes down, as the other chicks will peck at it. Red is a flag color for chickens, so never paint your toenails red!!!!

 

[Engteacher]

Thank you so much! Is there anything I should pick up on my way home from work tomorrow? I red something about bluing? How about Preparation H?

 

[BarkerChickens]

As Debi said, isolate the chick 'cause they like to peck!

If the brooder is big enough you can do something as simple as put up a wire mesh divider with its own food and water, so it can still see it's buddies. While I haven't tried it, I have heard prep H helps a lot. Good luck!

 

[Kiwibird]

The isolation is good, but in my experience chicks and ducklings in this condition will pick at their own prolapsed umbilicus (if that is what it is). I have tried various wraps and bindings without success. However, here is one with a better outcome: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=167988 and I saw some talk of supergluing somewhere else, but I'm not sure where to apply the glue!

 

[Engteacher]

Quote:
It is definitely the butt-hole and it's sticking out a bit, or at least enough to be noticeable. This morning it was still swollen and poor guy looks a bit droopy. He has pooped some more which thankfully didn't stick to his rear. I'll give him some sugar water as soon as I can get home this afternoon and then give you an update.

He (?) is a beautiful color of yellow/gold with just a bit of blue, so I think we have a blue splash. I hope he makes it!

 

[Engteacher]

His poor little anus looks like a little nose.

On the plus side, he let me soak his sore butt and dry him. I got some antibiotics from TSC (tetramycyn) which I dilluted a few crumbs in water and gave him through an eye dropper. He wasn't happy, but complied. I gave him some water with an electrolyte powder. He took that better. I put some Preparation H on his little butt. Poor guy.

I observed him eating and he's cheeping a lot, which means he has some energy to spare. Right now I have a wire fruit basket over him in the brooder to keep him safe but with the others as he heals. He keeps trying to preen, or maybe scratch, his rear.

Let's hope he gets better soon. The Australorps are sweet by sleeping next to his jail cell, but I can tell he'd love to be in the middle of the pile of sleeping chicks instead of on the fringe.

He's my only one who's not thriving out of 46 10 day-old chicks. Hope he turns the corner soon.

 

[MissJenny]

Do a search for a "prolapsed vent" or "vent prolapse". I have seen it suggested to put sugar on the protruding area -- something about the sugar makes it shrink. Don't ask me the science behind it -- but several say it works.

If you isolate -- and you should -- it might help to isolate her with one buddy or a mirror so she is not alone.


Jenny

 

[Engteacher]

I tried that, but all attention goes immediately to pecking the butt. With the setup I have now, he can easily see everybody and they are all curious about him and right up near him. They just can't get beaks through the wire to do any harm. They cheep back and forth, so it seems like they are attentive to each other. He just doesn't understand why he can't run around with his friends.

I saw the info on prolapses, but since it wasn't related to egg laying, I wasn't sure if it would apply.

I have tried to gently tuck it back in, but it doesn't work. He's so fragile, I don't want to stress him too much. I'm hoping external ointment will help in addition to the antibiotic and electrolytes to keep him properly hydrated.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Dont know if its the same thing but I had a 2 week old ameracana with a swollen butt as well. I did a search but couldnt find much that sounded like what I had. I put some triple antibotic on it and gave him alittle mineral oil. I also put some probotics in their feed and he was ok the next day. its been a week and so far no more swelling.