Emergency--Fluid Sacs under Haunches and Prolapsed Vent

[mmhoney]

Hi everyone, I am a first time chick-owner by accident. I'm in Hawaii and there are feral chickens everywhere here. I rescued a baby chick from the park the other day who had been attacked by a dog. The dog didn't have it in its mouth for too long and quickly dropped it. The baby chick was unable to stand or join the mom and other chicks who were moving off. I brought him home, gave him plenty of love and after just two days he is walking around and is very energetic. I examined him this morning and saw a red bubble coming out of his vent. I'm not sure if it is prolapsed because he is pooping constantly and the poop seems to be a normal consistency. I've read the threads on using Prep H and pushing it back in so I am getting ready to do that right now. My question is regarding a different issue--he has two large fluid sacs on either side of his vent and anus--I imagine they are from when he could not stand and would just sit on his haunches. They seem like they are clear-fluid-filled (feel very watery) so I don't know if Prep H will help if I put it on them, or if I should try to drain them myself, or just see if they clear up themselves. They seem like a blister-type sac so I'm tempted to drain them, but I'm not sure if that would dehydrate him or if I would hurt him somehow. Overall he is doing great although he doesn't seem to drink or eat much. He loves being held and wrapped up in a t shirt. I took him outside to play in the grass yesterday and he was over the moon searching for things. Thanks in advance for any advice on what to do about the fluid sacs--I want to nurse him back to health completely.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not break the fluid sacks, but if they break on their own, you would need to put some antibiotic ointment on the areas, and try to keep them clean until the blister heals.

 

[mmhoney]

That makes sense, thank you very much for the advice. I'll watch the sacs and will be prepared with the first aid ointment. I went to address the red bubble issue and it seems to have disappeared. Is it possible I might"ve irritated it temporarily when I was cleaning his bum off?

 

[Eggcessive]

That is probably a little prolapse of it's vent--some chickens will prolapse a big portion of the insides during a bowel movement or when older while laying an egg. It needs to be pushed back inside. Here is some info: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic.html

 

[mmhoney]

Thanks so much for the link! The bubble hasn't appeared again and everything appears normal but I will continue to monitor. Thanks for the help!