Fading Chick

[mapurcel]

I have a week old chick that has chronic pasty butt. She is the only one who has it.

The brooder is 90 and I am feeding them starter feed, vitamins, probiotics, and yogurt. She has had this affliction for days now and she's starting to look smaller than the rest (not gaining weight). She is interested in food, but often looks puffed and eyes half open.

Recently, there started to be a noise when she poops. I can't tell if this is her vent or lungs. It seems even the smallest amount of liquid can paste up her vent. The vent looks swollen. She pooped in my hand recently after I cleaned it for the 3rd time today. I added coconut oil to her vent recently after cleaning it.

I don't know what else I can do while I watch the little dear get weaker.

Advice?

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

keep cleaning her vent, and giving her coconut oil, not too much though. Good luck!

 

[AngieDawn]

Vaseline to her bottom if you have it

Wash her gently and keep her warm. They get so cold if they are wet and it takes so much energy Thor them to retain their body heat when they are wet!
Give Her a boost (Nutridench, sugar water, mashed egg yolk)

I’ve had sad endings and happy endings but I can always look back and say I did everything I could.

 

[Tamdog]

One of my 3 day olds was acting lethargic and the lady from the hatchery told me to give her sugar water, I did and she was 100% better with in a day. You may have to look up the ratio of water to sugar, I gave mine probably too much sugar but it helped her and did not harm her. I did not give my babies anything but starter feed and the probiotic water. Maybe cut down on the yogurt for her?

 

[mapurcel]

keep cleaning her vent, and giving her coconut oil, not too much though. Good luck!View attachment 2149459

You answering must be a good sign. She is a tiny brown bearded Belgium! Thanks for the support.

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

You answering must be a good sign. She is a tiny brown bearded Belgium! Thanks for the support.

AWww!

 

[mapurcel]

One of my 3 day olds was acting lethargic and the lady from the hatchery told me to give her sugar water, I did and she was 100% better with in a day. You may have to look up the ratio of water to sugar, I gave mine probably too much sugar but it helped her and did not harm her. I did not give my babies anything but starter feed and the probiotic water. Maybe cut down on the yogurt for her?

I will stop the yogurt for sure. I know I really need to up her water intake but I’m unsure how to lure her to do so lol

 

[bluemtnwmn]

I had one that I seriously considered culling due to pasty butt followed by constipation. He (I think) and my other chronic pasty butt chickie were much smaller than their siblings for weeks but are catching up now at 5 weeks.
Here is what I found worked for me:

Pasty butt can be caused by stress, overheating, and dehydration to name the main causes. Make sure the brooder temp is not too high (or low as that can cause stress) and that your chicks have a 'cool zone' away from the brooder light. If you haven't already, dip their beaks into their water to make sure they know where the water is. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in their drinking water can also help with pasty butt. Add 2 TBSP/gallon. As it needs to be remade every 24 hours for freshness, I made smaller batches when my chicks were little. 1 TBSP/ half gallon water or 1&1/2 TSP/ Quart (4 cups) water.
Cleaning pasty butt off under a light, warm (not hot) stream of water in the sink seems to be less chafing than using paper towels or a wash cloth,if the pasty butt is chronic.
A lubricant of some sort (Vaseline, coconut oil, even olive oil in a pinch) can help things slide more smoothly off the vent. Use a small amount as the other chicks may pick at the chicks vent if the down gets too oily and matted. Preparation H can help if the vent gets swollen. Use the original formula and not the pain relieving stuff.
In case of constipation, if you can get it to take some coconut oil and/or pineapple juice. I used a dropper for that. I was giving maybe 1/8 tsp twice a day of a half juice half oil mixture at 2 weeks so maybe 1/2 that much for your 1 week old.
Also, I had to give one of mine an enema as it got so stopped up it couldn't go at all. A small needleless syringe (found in the baby section of most stores with about a 1/4 tsp of warm (not hot) water slowly squirted into the vent can be quite helpful if it gets that bad. I had to do this twice before it stopped crying out when it tried to go, then I kept up the pineapple juice and coconut oil for about 3 days after.

Good luck with your chickie!

 

[mapurcel]

AWww!

I had one that I seriously considered culling due to pasty butt followed by constipation. He (I think) and my other chronic pasty butt chickie were much smaller than their siblings for weeks but are catching up now at 5 weeks.
Here is what I found worked for me:

Pasty butt can be caused by stress, overheating, and dehydration to name the main causes. Make sure the brooder temp is not too high (or low as that can cause stress) and that your chicks have a 'cool zone' away from the brooder light. If you haven't already, dip their beaks into their water to make sure they know where the water is. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in their drinking water can also help with pasty butt. Add 2 TBSP/gallon. As it needs to be remade every 24 hours for freshness, I made smaller batches when my chicks were little. 1 TBSP/ half gallon water or 1&1/2 TSP/ Quart (4 cups) water.
Cleaning pasty butt off under a light, warm (not hot) stream of water in the sink seems to be less chafing than using paper towels or a wash cloth,if the pasty butt is chronic.
A lubricant of some sort (Vaseline, coconut oil, even olive oil in a pinch) can help things slide more smoothly off the vent. Use a small amount as the other chicks may pick at the chicks vent if the down gets too oily and matted. Preparation H can help if the vent gets swollen. Use the original formula and not the pain relieving stuff.
In case of constipation, if you can get it to take some coconut oil and/or pineapple juice. I used a dropper for that. I was giving maybe 1/8 tsp twice a day of a half juice half oil mixture at 2 weeks so maybe 1/2 that much for your 1 week old.
Also, I had to give one of mine an enema as it got so stopped up it couldn't go at all. A small needleless syringe (found in the baby section of most stores with about a 1/4 tsp of warm (not hot) water slowly squirted into the vent can be quite helpful if it gets that bad. I had to do this twice before it stopped crying out when it tried to go, then I kept up the pineapple juice and coconut oil for about 3 days after.

Good luck with your chickie!

Wow this is all great information! The enema sounds daunting. Especially with how weak she’s been looking after handling her. How will I know it needs to come to that?
Thanks!!!

 

[bluemtnwmn]

Wow this is all great information! The enema sounds daunting. Especially with how weak she’s been looking after handling her. How will I know it needs to come to that?
Thanks!!!

Edited-No problem! I was so daunted by the idea of an enema that I looked into culling first. Lots of folks suggested enemas but there were no measurements and I didn't want to hurt him. I finally did it because I couldn't bring myself to cull without trying everything first. Most needless syringes are meant to be medicine droppers for babies, so they have measure marks on the side. I payed attention when I gave mine the enema to how much I was using but also watch your chick for discomfort.
The enema is only necessary if you think your chick is constipated. If it is making a loud, sharp, rapid sound when trying to poop. If it is trying unsuccessfully to poop, you can tell by their posture, especially if you see what the others do when they go. If it is only pooping a small amount that looks dry and crumbly. My poor guy did all of these things. He would also wander over to the food and water but then look confused and not eat or drink, definitely fading as you said yours is now. It took a few days and a little more pasty butt clean up after the 2 enemas (it was only after the second one that I saw him poop normally) but he's 5 weeks old now and still kicking! Also thriving which I wasn't sure would happen.