Constipated 2 week old, and I've tried it all!!

[katethegreat]

I've got nine 2 week old pullets and one is having trouble passing stool. Some background: they're in a large brooder with a heat lamp still, plenty of room to get away from the light or get under it if they're chilly. I've been giving room temperature water to them all and this particular chick has been drinking. I've powdered they're medicated chick starter in the blender and I've seen this chick eating. I've tried plain yogurt. I've tried olive oil in the food. I've tried olive oil down the beak and olive oil up the bum. I've tried massaging the tummy. I've also tried putting a chunch of sod in the brooder. All of these suggestions I've found here at BYC and she is still having trouble passing poo. Each time she needs to go she cried/peeps very loudly, strains, pushes, and will try to use her beak to get the poop out. She'll pass a small round section then carry on for a while straining, peeping, etc. trying to pass the rest. I've several times helped her by gently pressing it out for her. After it passes she is fine, eats, drinks carries on as normal, and then next time she needs to go it's the same thing all over again.
Is this normal? Why just this one chick? Will she grow out of it? Do I just leave her be and let nature take it's course in whatever direction? She is obviously in pain when she tries to poop but like I said, nothing I do seems to be helping her (except when I help her pass it the whole thing goes a lot more quickly but is obviously a very temporary aid).
Help?!

 

[allmypeeps]

oh, dear! I rescued a day old kitten that had this issue and by the time he was 2 mo. old everything suddenly started working ok. I often worried it was inhumane to keep him alive thru it- but it seemed so sad to put him down as he was happy and healthy other than the pooing issue. he is now over a year old and doing wonderful. (he had an actual deformity of the bowels and ''boy parts'') So I wonder if your chick can have a malformed vent or something??...you can try probiotics - more powerful than just yogurt- to see if perhaps its problem is lack of proper digestive bacteria (...perhaps also a pinch of natural papaya and pineapple suppliments in the form of bromaline and papain (spelling may be wrong) as they also aid in digestion.)

Otherwise try to call a farm vet to see what they may recommend you do.

I hope the best for this chick.

 

[DawnM]

I don't know about chickens but everytime I have had constipated animals in the past, including a Ball Python, the vet has told me to feed pumpkin, either fresh cooked or from a can. It has always worked and might be worth a try.

 

[katethegreat]

Will try pumpkin and pineapple... and wait it out. Thanks for the help!

 

[allmypeeps]

Definately try the cooked pumpkin! The vet I work with recommends it for cats/dogs all the time.

 

[YYZ]

Quote:
Thats a great tip Dawn....can you use that for other animals too? Thanks !