Chick can't poop

[jenhenny]

Hi everyone! I have a 9 day old chick that before now has been eating, drinking and pooping like a champ. Now she's sort if chirping and obviously pushing to try to poop. A little poo will come out each time but shes straining like she needs to go more. There is no poop stuck to her back side at all. They have only had starter with a little grit and water with acv and electrolytes added.
What do I do? Thanks!

 

[hrhta812]

I've given an adult hen a bit of olive oil with a dropper when I realized she hadn't pooped for 24 hours, so maybe that would help? I would only give yours one, maybe two, drops, since she's a baby. Giving her a little plain yogurt might help get her back in balance once the olive oil kicks in and gets things moving.

My hen had seemed sickly so I put her in a dog airline crate with clean shavings and brought her in the house to tend to her; the next day I realized the shavings were still clean, so I knew nothing was coming out. It worked and she started having very watery stool, then it started getting more normal. Turned out she had swallowed a long piece of hay - it came out and she got better very quickly.

 

[jenhenny]

Thanks! I'll try that! I'm a first time chick mom so I'm a worry wort

 

[hrhta812]

I understand that! I hate it when I lose a chick or adult bird. I've learned a lot, but learning the hard way stinks. Post an update if you can and let us know how your baby does.

 

[cgoodloe]

Would pro-biotics work in the water to help pooping problems? I added that to my new broods water with some sav-a-chick to help after they arrived in the mail and I haven't had a pasty butt problem with any of them except for one RIR bantam that just seems to have internal issues. She's almost 5 weeks now and she's having hard time pooping right now. Hence the reason I'm on the boards looking for what works to help her pass stool. I'm gonna try the pro-biotics again and see if I can catch her long enough to put some olive oil down her and some vasoline up her rear. These chicks are nervous ninnies and it drives me nuts trying to catch one in the 8 ft diameter brooder.