chick born with swollen belly

[1momof3]

Can anyone please help me? I have a chick born today, whom has a swollen belly. She had a hard time getting out of her shell, that's when I realized she had a swollen belly, and had a dirty behind as well.. What should I do? She seems to be in pain..

 

[iluvsedward]

Pictures would be nice, first off. Is this your first hatch? are you sure her bellys not just big because of the yolk the absorb?

 

[tmoore8595]

Welcome to BYC. Your chick will probably be fine. They all appear to have a large stomach, it has an egg yoke in there. It will not even need to eat for 2 or 3 days.

 

[oesdog]

At this moment in time do nothing - if this chick has intestinal issues it will either sort itself naturally or the chick is inviable and will die.
It may just be hatch injury or the yolk sac don;t be pulling the chick about as you can damage them.

Anyhow we would need a pic to really tell what is going on. Some chicks have developmental issues and some are hatched with their intestines out - some chicks are just not formed right and you should not upset yourself over it.

Your very very welcome we will try to help

Oesdog

 

[1momof3]

Ok, will take pictures. Thank you to the quick responses! And thank you for the welcome! Yes, this is my first hatch, I'm actually hatching chicks for my neighbor. They don't have room in their house for the babies, and it's too cold to let them live in the coop. And we are doing it for the experience.

So far we are enjoying it! All the other chicks were just fine hatching, so I was a little worried..

 

[oesdog]

Quote:
Don't be upset if not all make it - most folk don;t get 100% hatch even really experienced chicken folk! Your chick should be ok just let it find its own! They don;t need food for 2/3 days just water. Also some of them are really tired once they hatch and just need a rest maybe this chick just needs to sleep it off for a bit.

Oesdog

 

[Ukiah]

Welcome to BYC
When chicks first hatch, they will roll around and scream as if they are dying in pain - but it's totally normal. If your chick is acting lethargic,
feels/looks swollen, isn't interested in either food or water, &/or has a swollen, unclosed and bloody umbilicus, I'd suspect mushy chick, which
is an infected yolk sac, basically. It is caused by bacteria somehow intering the egg during incubation, and there isn't really a 'treatment' for chicks
this young. Some will make it, some won't. Seperate this chick from the others, have food available, though he probably wont eat. Dip the tip of his
beak in the water every couple hours, and offer a heat source that he can move away from - if need be. If he doesn't make it, he should pass with-in
6-10 days or so. As for the bottom, clean it with a warm damp cloth. Hold it on there until whatever is stuck - loosens up in which you can wipe it off
with an ease. I am not by no means saying your chick HAS mushy chick disease, I am just stating the possibility, Remember that HEALTHY new born
chicks are likely not to eat for 2-3 days after hatching, due to the absorbed yolk sac, and to be tired and unable to walk correctly. Wait it out

Stuff
like this happens, in the world of chickens.

Wishing you luck

 

[1momof3]

Here's a couple of pics.Sorry, hope you can see how it looks?

 

[1momof3]

Sorry, only one of the pics you can see her belly pretty good. And finally figured out how to post a pic! LOL..
Thank you everyone! I'm glad to be here on BYC!!

 

[Me & Jack]

Looks to me as if she didn't completely absorb the yolk and the navel didn't finish healing, which is part of the whole hatch process. In my experience, this often means too high humidity during incubation, but if she's the only chick with this problem it may just be an anomaly. She might very well make it -- I've had chicks that did fine. Put Betadine or even antibiotic ointment on the navel and let it dry out as much as possible -- and leave her be as much as possible, too. Good luck!