Constipated chick with swollen vent

[cookinmom]

So glad your chick is better! I wouldn't have had a clue what to do with that. One thing about the grit, when you feel like you need to give them some grit to take care of stuff other than chick starter, rather than setting out a dish of it for them (free choice) try sprinkling some on a snack (boiled egg), or mixing a bit in with their feed. That way you have control of how much they are getting, rather than leaving it up to them. A knowledgeable person here, Barnyard Dawg, described it as sprinkling it on the food as if you were salting it (but don't use salt!) That's what I do with mine, after reading posts here where people's chicks just wanted to eat the grit and not the food.

 

[iopele]

You're absolutely right, cookinmom--lesson hard-learned here, but not one I'm likely to forget!

Update on Domino--

He seems to be doing fine this morning! His vent looks normal, like the prolapsed rectum has gone back in. (I still put some more Vaseline on his bottom this morning just in case, though.) He's eating and drinking and had some poop stuck to his vent feathers so I know he's gone recently, and just now I gave them all a crumbled egg yolk in my hand and he was right in the middle of the feeding frenzy (I swear it's like watching fluffy little pirhanas, lol) making sure he got his share. He's still a little tired-looking--eyes not fully open, sort of half-sleepy looking and hanging out under the warming lamp a little more than the others--but I think he's going to be fine. I mean, if I had a day like he did yesterday, I'd probably be a bit under the weather too, right? No one's picking on him and he's started doing his usual thing of trying to peck everyone else's beak to take away whatever they're eating... argh, wish he'd stop that, but it's good to see him back to his normal behavior!

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[SpottedCrow]

Excellent! Chicks don't really need grit because their food is easy for them to digest. Even if they don't have pasty butt, sometimes they still get constipated.

 

[Bean789]

I have been searching for help with this same problem for one of our little peepers, now 5 weeks old. Whew! I will get some mineral oil, an earwax removal tool, and make her some sugar water when I get home this evening! Hopefully.....there will be poop!

 

[Brahma Annie]

I am new to the Chicken thing, but one of my 3 week old chicks is having this same problem with the swollen vent. she is pooping ok but seems to strain but is going. she is eating and drinking and growing fine. any suggestions? I took the to the feed store and she said maybe starting of a yeast infections and to spray vetracin on her bottom. That does not seem to have any effect. Should i try some mineral oil. not to be gross but when she is going poo her vent like pops out and looks like a hot dog almost then goes back.

 

[Bean789]

Your description is very apt to what our poor little Bavis is going through. I feel so bad for her and sometimes when she manages to get some out, as I have a damp paper towel to assist her. Poor thing has to suffer through getting her little bum prodded and wiped all the time. She is turned on her back for stomach massages and belly cleanings, etc. as well. She just looks at me and shakes a lot and then relaxes later and falls asleep if I hold her for a little longer in my hand or in my lap. I am thinking she doesn't get much sleep or can't relax or lie down easily with these issues going on.

The antibiotic, Tetracycline (?), I got from the feed store doesn't seem to be helping. I think it made it worse, actually.

For the next few days, Bavis will get only boiled egg yolks, sugar water, natural yogurt, and mineral oil on her eggs yolks. I will probably feed her regular water as well to be sure she gets enough.

 

[Bean789]

A few mintues ago, I found a few sites that call this condition prolapse. Once I found a name for the condition, there are all kinds of sites with helpful information.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic.html

http://www.littlehenrescue.co.uk/Pages/Medicaladvice.aspx

 

[Brahma Annie]

ok i was just about to try the antibotic water, think i will wait. have been using vetricyn and will continue and go get preparation H. i have two, three week old babies, can i just give both the diet like you mentioned? how much sugar do you put in say a gallon of water?
Thanks for helping with advice!!

 

[Bean789]

When we cleaned the brooder tonite, we helped Bavis go poop by massaging her tummy down to her vent area and assisted with the removal of the large clump of poop she was trying to pass. then we put her in with the other chicks while we finished cleaning the brooder. While she was in the 'holding tank' she pooped a huge pile on her own with no squawking. Then we cleaned her up, put Preparation H on her vent area inside (gently and not too far) and out, gave her 2 ml of mineral oil, and put her in a container by herself with some egg yolk and yogurt and water. She is resting comfortably and chirping to her mates nearby. She pooped once since she has been in there and it was a lot and messy. Hopefully, with this continued treatment, she will be OK in the end. Still trying to save her.

 

[Bean789]

When we cleaned the brooder tonite, we helped Bavis go poop by massaging her tummy down to her vent area and assisted with the removal of the large clump of poop she was trying to pass. then we put her in with the other chicks while we finished cleaning the brooder. While she was in the 'holding tank' she pooped a huge pile on her own with no squawking. Then we cleaned her up, put Preparation H on her vent area inside (gently and not too far) and out, gave her 2 ml of mineral oil, and put her in a container by herself with some egg yolk and yogurt and water. She is resting comfortably and chirping to her mates nearby. She pooped once since she has been in there and it was a lot and messy. Hopefully, with this continued treatment, she will be OK in the end. Still trying to save her.

Update on little Bavis.....last evening, she was still clean on her bottom and starving. I don't think she liked the egg yolks or yogurt in her cage. SO, I made mush out of the chick starter feed, added some egg yolk and yogurt with a few drops of mineral oil and she ate like a pig! OMG! Also, I put the food on a black plastic lid instead of a white glass plate. Maybe that made a difference. Doctored her with more Prep H, force fed her some water and lots of it. She was chirping away this morning and her dish was almost empty. BTW...we trade out one of the other chicks with her a couple of times a day so she doesn't get lonely or become unfamiliar with her brood mates. As for her sugar water, it is in a small plastic cat feeding dish and I only added about a 1/2 teaspoon to the water. Less than a cup of water in the dish.