Constipated Chick

[yoopergirl1211]

Hi! I don't think it's an emergency but I've tried everything I've read and wondering if anyone has anymore ideas. I have a 3 1/2 week old BLRW and she is having a really hard time pooping. There is no poop blocking vent and vent doesn't appear to be swollen other then being severely distended while she tries to go to the bathroom which normally takes 5 minutes of crying. I have been giving her coconut oil once a day a couple beak dips and if she is being difficult I will dropper it in mouth. I have put oil and vaseline on her vent and normally dab oil on when I hear her start crying which seems to help. It's been going on for about 5 days. I was treating all of the chicks with corid up until Tues since then I have halved the amount of it in water. I haven't been doing the electrolytes since I started corid because I read on here not too. No one else is having an issue. She is incredibly happy and healthy in everything else. She is eating and drinking and there is always plenty of both. She just started crying again and I really wish there was something else I could do. Thanks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Try giving her wet chick starter with a couple of drops of molasses in it (molasses has a laxative effect). Make sure she is drinking plenty, plenty of water.

If you are feeding anything besides chick starter, offer chick grit.

Did your chicks have cocci?

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Try giving her wet chick starter with a couple of drops of molasses in it (molasses has a laxative effect). Make sure she is drinking plenty, plenty of water.

If you are feeding anything besides chick starter, offer chick grit.

Did your chicks have cocci?

I have done some grasses for them to play with and gave them grit but I stopped because I thought that might be the problem. I haven't tried molasses but I will run and get some first thing tomorrow. I'll also start paying even more attention to her drinking. They keep emptying the water but maybe she's not getting enough. I'll try anything to help her. The crying wakes me up at night and all I can do is watch and put oil on her butt. She is so friendly I hope she grows out of this. Thank you.

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Try giving her wet chick starter with a couple of drops of molasses in it (molasses has a laxative effect). Make sure she is drinking plenty, plenty of water.

If you are feeding anything besides chick starter, offer chick grit.

Did your chicks have cocci?

I had one chick that went super lethargic on me the Monday before last and a lot of really runny poop some with reddish tint but not visibly bloody or foamy. I gave the corid to all of them just in case and the girl I was worried about is doing fine now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Quote: Offer the grit free choice, this helps them grind up food(s) for easier digestion. Dehydration could be the cause of constipation, so watch to see if she is drinking enough. My chicks (and now adults) LOVE wet feed. Just mix a the chick starter with some water to make it about the consistency of oatmeal.

That sounds like a good move on the Corid. If I had seen that in mine, I would have treated. Corid is mild and won't hurt. After they finish the Corid give them poultry vitamins and some probiotics/yogurt for a couple of days.

I hope she starts to poop, I'm sure it must be painful. If her vent is red/swollen/irritated you can apply some hemorrhoid cream or honey to help reduce swelling.

Keep us posted.

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Offer the grit free choice, this helps them grind up food(s) for easier digestion. Dehydration could be the cause of constipation, so watch to see if she is drinking enough. My chicks (and now adults) LOVE wet feed. Just mix a the chick starter with some water to make it about the consistency of oatmeal.

That sounds like a good move on the Corid. If I had seen that in mine, I would have treated. Corid is mild and won't hurt. After they finish the Corid give them poultry vitamins and some probiotics/yogurt for a couple of days.

I hope she starts to poop, I'm sure it must be painful. If her vent is red/swollen/irritated you can apply some hemorrhoid cream or honey to help reduce swelling.

Keep us posted.

Was thinking of doing FF for my big ladies. Wondering if it would work well for the chicks too. Thank you I'll probably grab some cream too. It was starting to look red half hour ago when she went and I have to keep other chicks from pecking at her while she's going. I put a zip tie loosely on her leg so I can pick her out of crowd easier to keep an eye on her drinking habits. I have NurtiDench or whatever its called would that be okay or I still have some packets of the save a chick too. Haven't tried the yogurt yet because there are so many conflicting opinions on it but I did pick some up to try out with my layers.

 

[yoopergirl1211]

And will the chicks self regulate the amount of grit they need. When I was giving it to them they demolished it and I was kinda worried it had been to much.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Quote: A lot of people give fermented feed to chicks - I haven't tried it, but make sure you use chick starter or an all flock/flock raiser feed to make the FF for chicks.

Poultry Nutri-Drench is just fine. I keep this on hand at all times.

Yes, they should self-regulate their grit intake. When they first encounter grit, they do seem to take quite a few pieces - it can be a bit alarming. I brooded mine in the coop, so the first night I had them (they were around 3days old) moths were flying in to the light - those chicks would grab a moth, swallow it, then eat grit - I thought OH MY! but this is what they do - if they were with a broody hen, she would be scratching up dirt/grit and showing them it's there

 

[yoopergirl1211]

A lot of people give fermented feed to chicks - I haven't tried it, but make sure you use chick starter or an all flock/flock raiser feed to make the FF for chicks.

Poultry Nutri-Drench is just fine.  I keep this on hand at all times.

Yes, they should self-regulate their grit intake.  When they first encounter grit, they do seem to take quite a few pieces - it can be a bit alarming.   I brooded mine in the coop, so the first night I had them (they were around 3days old) moths were flying in to the light - those chicks would grab a moth, swallow it, then eat grit - I thought OH MY! but this is what they do - if they were with a broody hen, she would be scratching up dirt/grit and showing them it's there

Thank you already had her eat the wet food with molasses and the vitamin water is in there. Putting cream on now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Quote: YVW

I hope she starts improving. Please keep us posted.