I hatched chicks 12 days ago. One is really having a hard time. It started to get a messy bottom the first couple days. I know all about pasty butt so I kept it really clean. After a few days of cleaning it up I realized it's poor vent is just totally packed and clogged. I keep applying olive oil to make things a little slicker. There is just the smallest bit of really smelly poo that somehow oozes out and dries on the chicks bottom. I tried actually giving the chick olive oil. I have watched the chick try to poop and really nothing comes out. I can see a mass of urates (spell?) the white stuff inside the vent. It is all hard and not moving. I tried to gently squirt some oil into the vent to see if it could loosen up. The chick just chirps constantly and is obviously unhappy. It is behind in growth now too tho I have seen it eat.
I just feel terrible. Maybe the little thing just is not formed right inside and cannot expel properly. How long do I wait? Just let it slowly die? Ack! I have never had to do away with a chicken or a chick but I know this is part of responsible pet ownership.
I just feel terrible. Maybe the little thing just is not formed right inside and cannot expel properly. How long do I wait? Just let it slowly die? Ack! I have never had to do away with a chicken or a chick but I know this is part of responsible pet ownership.
