chick w/string sticking out of vent...lethargic...help!!!!

[kbaij]

My chicks arrived at 8:00am yesterday. All looked healthy and started eating and drinking right away, I noticed that one of them has a piece of the bedding material that they were shipped in protruding from her vent. I didn't think too much about it, I thought it would pass on its own. I gave the piece a gentle tug, but it is stuck fast. The chick is now starting to be lethargic. I don't think she can go to the bathroom....Help

 

[arlee453]

First question.... chicks have a VENT, located JUST under the tail - high up on their rears. They also have a naval, located about 1/2 CM or so BELOW the vent. Is the stringy looking thing protruding from the VENT or the Naval?

It's not unusual to have the equivelent of the chick's umbilicial cord to not fall off completely and be haging from the naval NOT the vent. If this is the case, it looks like a really hard and dry string - just like a small piece of the excelsior bedding they use in the boxes to ship. If that is the case, then take a pair of scissors and clip the cord off close to the naval area. The rest will fall off on it's own, but trimming it will keep the other chicks from pecking and the chances it gets caught up on something and hurts the chick.

If it is the actual VENT that is blocked, that usually looks more like caked on poop and will be over the VENT (higher up) not the naval area. Take warm water and dampen a washcloth or papertowel. Gently scrub off anything blocking the vent area and then pat dry. You can also smear olive oil or vaseline around the vent to keep poop from sticking. Then keep an eye out to make sure it doesn't paste up again.

Let us know how she does!

 

[kbaij]

We are bringing her into the house, the light is better. There is no caked poop or anything on her rear. But the string is very highup. I hope I am wrong and it is her navel....

 

[kbaij]

Boy, do I feel stupid! But relieved! It was her navel...thank goodness, and Thanks for the fast answer. She was getting chased around by some of the other chicks that were grabbing at it. We cut it off as short as we could and hopefully she can eat and rest.

 

[arlee453]

Yeah - I was surprised to see the naval was so close to the vent when i hatched chicks the first time.

I'm glad it was that simple! Just keep an eye out to make sure the others aren't pecking on the stump. Worst case you'll need to separate this chick (and maybe one more calm one to keep her company) if they are really pecking at it.

 

[Julie08]

great thinking Arlee I didnt even think of that but as soon I read your answer I thought of OF COURSE thats what it is.