Almost 4-week-old chick with recurring constipation. Need advice/help

[mrsdelore]

I have an Ameraucana chick that will be 4 weeks on Tuesday. A few days after we got her, she developed what I thought was mild pasty butt, cleaned her up and she seemed fine. But now, this past week, she's been having bouts of constipation where she had HUGE poops that she can't pass on her own. She chirps in pain and we have to basically help her squeeze the poop out.

Yesterday, I decided to try giving her an enema. I ended up giving her 2 - one with warm soapy water and the second with warm water and olive oil. Both times it provided almost immediate relief, but she eventually became constipated again. Tonight, I gave her another enema but this time I used warmed up unrefined coconut oil as I've heard it has some good healing properties. I was hoping that spending some time outside yesterday, where they definitely ate some grass and other good stuff, might have helped loosen her up, but obviously that wasn't the case. When she isn't constipated, she runs around like crazy with the others - eating and acting fine.

I don't have a problem continuing to treat her with enemas, but I'd like to get to the root of WHY she's so constipated. Is there anything I can add to the water that will help her - without harming the 8 non-constipated chicks she shares the brooder with? I wet their food today to try to get some extra fluids in her - but of course she didn't have much interest in eating at that moment as she'd just gotten an enema and passed a monster poop. The poor thing. I feel so bad for her and am hoping this doesn't meant there is just something wrong with her plumbing.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Likely gut flora and bacteria are out of whack.
Get some probiotics into the chick and it should solve your problems.

Plain yogurt or kefir will work or a Bene-Bac powder for avians.
There's a product called Gro2Max formulated specifically for chickens.

 

[mrsdelore]

Likely gut flora and bacteria are out of whack.
Get some probiotics into the chick and it should solve your problems.

Plain yogurt or kefir will work or a Bene-Bac powder for avians.
There's a product called Gro2Max formulated specifically for chickens.

I can definitely get some plain yogurt tomorrow to give them. I also have some Durvet Layer Boost on hand - it's vitamins and electrolytes with live microorganisms. Wondering even though it says for layer chickens if I can mix some up for the chicks? Here are the ingredients: Maltodextrin, Sodium bicarbonate, Salt, Dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, Potassium chloride, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Ascorbic acid, Vitamin A supplement, Niacin supplement, Vitamin D3 supplement, Riboflavin supplement, Vitamin E supplement, Flax seed meal, Thiamine hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 supplement, Tagetes.

 

[lazy gardener]

Are you giving her chick grit? I'd be sure to get some of that into her. And I'd immediately start a batch of fermented feed. If these issues don't cure the problem, you may need to cull.

 

[mrsdelore]

Are you giving her chick grit? I'd be sure to get some of that into her. And I'd immediately start a batch of fermented feed. If these issues don't cure the problem, you may need to cull.

No chick grit, but they have a pan of dirt to pick through. I can add some grit as well. And I was just going out to get some feed to start fermenting!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I can definitely get some plain yogurt tomorrow to give them. I also have some Durvet Layer Boost on hand - it's vitamins and electrolytes with live microorganisms. Wondering even though it says for layer chickens if I can mix some up for the chicks? Here are the ingredients: Maltodextrin, Sodium bicarbonate, Salt, Dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, Potassium chloride, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Ascorbic acid, Vitamin A supplement, Niacin supplement, Vitamin D3 supplement, Riboflavin supplement, Vitamin E supplement, Flax seed meal, Thiamine hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 supplement, Tagetes.

I don't see calcium on the list of ingredients so it should be fine for chicks. The maltodextrin as the main ingredient may be there as a sweetener or energy booster. It shouldn't be a problem either. The tagetes may be there for the carotenoids for yolk color.

No chick grit, but they have a pan of dirt to pick through. I can add some grit as well. And I was just going out to get some feed to start fermenting!

Grit helps develop the gizzard.

 

[mjohjoh123]

to help chicks immune system when they are young I suggest using a little bit of vinegar with "Mother's" in it. It is usually the brown vinegar. In addition, I was told to buy some "grit" and sprinkle on top of the food and the grit will help the chicks digestive track and stop the sticky butt problem. Good luck.

 

[mrsdelore]

Thanks everyone. I'm heading out shortly to get some yogurt and chick grit. I already put raw apple cider vinegar in the water, but hadn't added any the past few days. Going to make sure they get that again as well. Hopefully we get her fixed up - and she can get a new name. We currently call her Stanky Butt. LOL

 

[mrsdelore]

Yesterday, the chicks only got wet feed out of the container that I started fermenting plus they got some plain Greek yogurt mixed into that. I also got some sav-a-chick probiotics for their water and I also added a second waterer in their brooder. I had switched them over to just a dripper style, but had the thought that if maybe she didn't like the dripper, she wasn't drinking enough. She was still constipated yesterday afternoon so we gave her another coconut oil enema - that seems to have had the best and most long-lasting benefits for her.

This morning, her tush looks great. It's not reddened or puffy at all for the first time in days. She was happily eating and running around like a nut case with the others this morning, so let's hope she's headed in the right direction now.

Thank you all that suggested probiotics. I would've gotten there myself eventually, but we all know with chickens you don't have a lot of time to get it right before it's too late.