Chick with swollen abdomen

[Hoosierchickens]

I have a 6 week old bantam old english game chick that has a very swollen, mushy abdomen. I'm certain it's not a sour crop. It's his abdomen and around his vent. His feathers are ruffled and the swelling seems to be making it difficult to breath as he is breathing somewhat rapidly. He stands in a corner and closes his eyes and appears very uncomfortable. I've seen him attempt to poop a few times and nothing comes out. When he strains to poop it appears his vent is almost going to prolapse but it doesn't. He is eating and drinking. I suspect he has a blockage in his lower GI system. I've observed him eating wood chips on several occasions. He did have a very small amount of poop on it's vent so I cleaned that off with warm water and a paper towel and it came off easily. I inserted a Q-tip with olive oil just inside his vent hoping that would help things pass but after 24 hours he doesn't appear to be improved. None of my other 22 chicks are ill. I'm putting apple cider vinegar in their water and am considering separating this chick and trying molasses mixed in water for several hours then feeding some yogurt. Any ideas, advice, or suggestions?

 

[klmclain1]

Maybe a little applesauce....mix some olive oil in with it too. Maybe a nice warm bath with a belly massage too?

 

[chickenzoo]

Try feeding him some olive oil to help soften his stool and have things flow better . I might suggest an antibiotic incase an infection of sorts has started. Try giving warm scrambled eggs. I personally like to feed ill birds baby parrot hand feeding formula as it has a lot of nutrition, keeps them hydrated and is easy digested.

 

[CMV]

How's he doing?

 

[Hoosierchickens]

No improvement but no worse. I'm considering culling him. He looks miserable.

 

[CMV]

Did you try the laxative?

 

[klmclain1]

Have you tried any of the things we've suggested??

 

[Hoosierchickens]

I separated the chick, provided a heat lamp, olive oil mixed in feed, chick grit, and molasses mixed with water. He is pooping but not much. I haven't seen him strain to poop like before but he is still very bloated. He still doesn't seem any better or worse. I'm really surprised he's hung in there this long. I'm beginning to wonder if the bloating isn't ascites due to some sort of liver disease. Anyone ever seen that. He's always seemed healthy until now but he's always been smaller than all the other chicks and hasn't grown as fast.

 

[CMV]

That was my first thought- ascites.

I would continue the laxatives for another day to make sure he didn't eat something that has bound him up. There was a story on here last year (year before?) about a bird that ate a long piece of string which caused a temporary blockage. A hardcore round of laxatives forced the string through the bird's system, and the string was finally expelled. The bird was seriously sick prior to the expulsion of the string, but went on to make a full recovery.

If he is still ailing and nothing unusual is passed within a day or two then I think he may not be meant for the long haul. I would then consider euthanizing him. I like to try all I can in these questionable cases before I give up. There does come a point, though, when you are just prolonging the inevitable. Some birds just don't make it.

Good luck.

 

[Hoosierchickens]

Thanks for the help and I agree. I think I'm going to let him hang in there to see if it's a blockage that he can pass so long as he's peppy. If he gets lethargic then I will consider euthanizing. We'll see how he does. I'll keep everyone posted.