Cord or something coming out below chicks butt opening? UPDATE W/ Pic

amartinlb

Songster
10 Years
Mar 17, 2009
257
2
129
Jersey Shore
Noticed what looked like dry poop below chicks butt - wet it a few days ago with warm water - did not come off with gentle sponging so I left it alone - just looked like it was stuck to its down.
Today some white poop in the area so used warm water again, poop came off but appears to be a little skin tag? type thing that is attached to chick. Pooping is not affected, happy eating active little chick. I put some neosporin on it to moisten area. It but looks funny and naked because its cute fuzzy butt is matted and you can see pink butt area. My son took a picture and will post it in a bit. Will it just fall off?
 
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Here's the picture. Anybody have any idea what that is? I'm sure it's harmless as the chick seems perfectly healthy but none of my other chicks have ever had that. Is that just a skin tag or some sort of cord, or is it just feather growth or what is it?

PICT0158%20(720%20x%20540).jpg


Thanks,
-Anna
 
Anybody know? It isn't as obvious now but we believe it is still there. We just want to know if it is nothing at all or if it is a problem.

~Ed
 
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I am fairly new to chicks, but one of mine had that. It eventually went away and she is fine and 10 weeks old now. I considered it her "belly button" and it just had not falllen off yet when she hatched.
 
It's hard to tell from the picture just where the swelling is. Can you snap another one from farther off?

Two possibilities, just a guess at this point - -

- if it is the vent, it could be slightly prolapsed. Make sure chick poops regularly, may apply warm cloth if dried poo accumulates. Could gently dab Preparation H with a swab to reduce swelling.

- it if is the navel (which is much lower than you might think), it could also be slightly herniated. I don't know what you might do for that except wait it out.

Please keep us posted on how the chick does. Eating/drinking OK is a good sign. Make sure no others pick at the swelling.
 
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Thank you for your replies. This is our first year with chicks and this is the youngest group (3 days old) that we had. The others are 6-8 wks and fine. I think you are right. Everything looks ok. I washed the butt that one time and it looks fine-no more poop on feathers. I think it will or has fallen off. I don't see it sticking out anymore.

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I didn't realize cord would be that end of chicken! All six seem healthy and active.
 
It's the umbilical cord. All chicks have one on their tummy/navel before you get to the vent. Do not pick at, rub, or try to remove or it could bleed out. If it is long or wet, apply iodine to help it dry. It will dry up and fall off on its own.
 

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