Chick with distended abdomen

[ZarianaJ]

I have a very young chick, less then 3 weeks old, that is having these symptoms. She's walking with her tail down and has a squishy, distended underside. When I pick her up and press on it she doesn't give any indication that it hurts her. And everything I've read says it's most likely that she's egg bound, but she isn't old enough to produce so I don't see how that could be. Has anyone ever dealt with this before? Is there anything at all I can do for her? This is a chick that I basically brought back from death when she was about a day old. I am desperately hoping there is something I can do for her because it would devastate me to put her down.

 

[bobbi-j]

I have a very young chick, less then 3 weeks old, that is having these symptoms. She's walking with her tail down and has a squishy, distended underside. When I pick her up and press on it she doesn't give any indication that it hurts her. And everything I've read says it's most likely that she's egg bound, but she isn't old enough to produce so I don't see how that could be. Has anyone ever dealt with this before? Is there anything at all I can do for her? This is a chick that I basically brought back from death when she was about a day old. I am desperately hoping there is something I can do for her because it would devastate me to put her down.

I would guess it would more likely be ascites, but I don't know if it happens in chicks that young. What happened to her before that you brought her back from death? Could it be she has some genetic problems that will always plague her?

 

[Machineryqueen]

I would guess she has fluid in her abdominal cavity. I would have it seen by a Vet if possible. It might have a bacterial virus or a disease. She should be separated from any other chickens. I have been thru this process but not the same symptoms. Mine were older and luckily I have a Vet that deals with chickens. It takes a week or more to get any test results and you hope for the best between the times. Give probiotics and some electrolytes during the waiting period.. Read the recommendations on the packages. However, an online veterinarian told me to give electrolytes every day for a sick chick. Up to your opinion.

 

[micstrachan]

Sounds like ascites to me, too, which can be caused by a number of things. I agree an avian vet would be best if that is an option. What caused her to fall so ill as a young chick? That may be an indicator of what her current issue is.

 

[coach723]

Another possibility, and I may be way off base, is mushy chick disease, but this usually occurs between hatch and 14 days, with most shortly after hatch, so not sure about the age of your chick. Also more common in incubator hatched chicks and I don't know if that applies. Here are a couple of links, one with pictures (graphic if you are squeamish), that may help in ID-ing if this is a possibility. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mushy-chick-disease-yolk-sack-infection-omphalitis.64686/
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/omphalitis/overview-of-omphalitis-in-poultry

 

[ZarianaJ]

Thank you for all the information. I do not think it is mushy chick because it looks nothing like that. She just has a swollen belly, but it's not hot or anything like that. She is still eating and drinking and playing like she has since she got better. She has a muscular issue, she is very small for her age. About half the size of her sisters who are the same age. When she was young she got very sick with something, I'm not quite sure what. But after a few days of probiotics and Poly-Vi-Sol she bounced back and has been fine until now. Another thought I had was that her organs are growing but her body is not. I will schedule an appointment to get in as soon as possible with a vet and hope it clears up on it's own. I'm just being a mother hen (pun intended) and am worried.

 

[coach723]

Sounds like you are doing all you can. Vet visit is a good idea. Sometimes when they are small and we nurse them back they go on to live full, normal lives, and sometimes something we can't see raises it's head down the road. I've got a 6 month old pullet right now that I had to nurse as a baby that is now failing from what I suspect may be heart failure. Sometimes there is just no way to know for sure when they are so small, and all we can do is to do the best we can. Best of luck with her.