Baby Chick with Swollen Abdomen

[SteenAcres]

Hi! I have a little chick (smallest of the bunch) with a swollen abdomen, especially toward the left side of her belly near her left leg. Her legs are a bit splayed when walking, but she otherwise seems totally fine. It looks like water belly, but is that possible in such a young chick? I have given her a drop of Nutridrench two days in a row. Yesterday she immediately had a very watery poop (it was clear), but I’m wondering if the swollen abdomen is due to constipation?

Anything I can do to help this little one? Do I treat for constipation? Continue with Nutridrench? Just wait and see if she recovers on her own?

Any tips/tricks are appreciated!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Usually in chicks this young a swollen abdomen means internal infection leftover from the hatching process as the egg yolk is absorbed into the abdomen. Sometimes the naval doesn't close quickly enough allowing bacteria to grow.

If you can put it on a course of antibiotics, that would be helpful. Otherwise, oregano oil is purported to be a homeopathic antibiotic. I don't know what the dosage is for a chick this size.

LofMc

 

[MommyTRex]

Did it make it?