Day old chick still not clean **UPDATED* clean but with prolapsed vent

[Glimmer]

Let me preface this by saying that this is our first time hatching out eggs.

Everyone pipped, peeped, and hatched according to the book. Except one little guy. He was the first to pip and the last to hatch. It took maybe 24-28 hours for him to emerge. Now, more than 24 hours later, he still has pieces of membrane stuck to his down and his vent is caked. I really, really want to get a moistened cotton swab and clean him off. He seems normal otherwise. Where there isn't membrane, he's dry and fluffy, and is walking around just like his brethren. For all intents and purposes, he looks like a healthy baby chicken, aside from the membrane and caked up vent.

Can I clean him off now? Or should I just wait?

Sorry if this is a no-brainer. I searched and couldn't really find a succinct answer.

Thanks!

 

[The Chicken People]

I would use warm water and bathe him them dry good and stick back in bator until dry! I have done this before and it works!
Keep him warm!

 

[MissJenny]

Well, for sure she can't live with a caked up vent. Use a q-tip or cotton botton and clean the vent area. As for the rest of him... there are a hundred ways to do this... what I would do, with a heat source nearby, a light, a space heater, whatever, I would use a cotton ball or a gauze pad with a little dish of warm water, dab off the membrane. Hopefully you won't have to get the baby too wet. Before you put it back in the brooder damp, wrap it in a wash cloth to soak up as much moisture as possible. Then hold it under a heat source (not hotter than 95*) or use a blow dryer -- it might not like the blow dryer. The goal is to not let it get chilled.

That's what I would do.

Jenny

 

[Glimmer]

thanks guys.

The membrane came right off with a damp cotton swab. The vent, however, that's a different story. It was pretty caked up and pretty hard and even though I was as gentle as I could be, it looks like...I don't know what you call it in a chicken. In dogs and cats it's called a prolapsed rectum. Where part of the rectum protrudes through the sphincter. In dogs and cats, you'd lube it, replace it and put a little suture in for good measure. But in chickens? I'm at a loss.

 

[Glimmer]

So I ended up slathering it with honey to shrink it. I guess I'll just keep an eye on him.

Any other suggestions?

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Sounds like you did great!


Just keep an eye on his vent - should it start pasting up, you will want to run his hinny under warm water to clean him (her

).


Pictures?

 

[Glimmer]

Unfortunately, pics are a no

the camera, she's broke!

There is still some tissue protruding, but it looks like it's shrinking a little. Is there anything I can put on to keep it moist? I hate to keep wetting him with water. Don't want him to get chilled.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

A dab of vaseline will work. Also should it swell and prolapse again (hope not), a little prep h will work also to shrink the tissue.