Fed baby chick metamucil for constipation. Now she is mouth breathing and not the same.

[Tanner123]

We have a baby chick that is almost 3 weeks old, we named her penguin. This poor thing has a stunted growth, she is much smaller than her siblings and has just recently started growing her feathers, she has had multiple days of pasty butt in a row, but recently she has had huge poops. She has really struggled to get them out. Its sad watching her struggle to get them out and she would chirp while pushing. We tried feeding coconut oil but that didn't seem to do anything so today we tried some Metamucil mixed with some food but we are thinking it was to thick and she maybe has a airway obstruction or maybe fluid in her lungs. We don't know what to do. It doesn't seem severe but If there's something I should do or can do to help her before it gets worse. You can see in the video she is doing a weird mouth breathing and looks like she is trying to clear her throat or airway and she is not the same chick that is always running around and eating. She is just standing still or lays down. Also you can see in the picture how much smaller she is. Please help us with our poor penguin. We don't want to lose her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'd just make sure she's drinking well.

The Metamucil may have clogged up the crop or you may be right, she aspirated some.

I would stick with hydration and giving bits of coconut oil chunks to help with constipation. You can give a little molasses in the water, it will act as a laxative sometimes.

What is the temperature of your brooder on the warm and cold side?

 

[Tanner123]

I'd just make sure she's drinking well.

The Metamucil may have clogged up the crop or you may be right, she aspirated some.

I would stick with hydration and giving bits of coconut oil chunks to help with constipation. You can give a little molasses in the water, it will act as a laxative sometimes.

What is the temperature of your brooder on the warm and cold side?

She doesn't seem to want to eat or drink. She's usually a hungry hippo and eats nonstop. And I dont want to try and force any fluids if she did aspirated some.

Cold side of brooder is 88 and warm side is 97.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She doesn't seem to want to eat or drink. She's usually a hungry hippo and eats nonstop. And I dont want to try and force any fluids if she did aspirated some.

Cold side of brooder is 88 and warm side is 97.

See if she will drink on her own.


I'd let the cool side go cooler.

The hot side is too hot at 97F for 3 week old chicks.



Being too hot can cause pasty butt.

 

[Tanner123]

See if she will drink on her own.


I'd let the cool side go cooler.

The hot side is too hot at 97F for 3 week old chicks.



Being too hot can cause pasty butt.

She was the only one that would get pasty butt. Since she was the only one not growing her feathers I thought she might need a little more warmth. But I can get the temp adjusted easily.

If her crop did get clogged will it eventually work its way through or is there something I need to do to help her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It may work its way through, but she needs to be drinking.

 

[Tanner123]

It may work its way through, but she needs to be drinking.

Ok. I placed a extra water dish close to where she is sleeping. Hoping she will get a drink on her own soon. I dont want to try and force her and make things worse.

 

[Tanner123]

She got up and drank on her own last night, pooped a normal poop, and was standing up this morning but haven't seen her eat yet. Seems like her mouth breathing has stopped but she still seems a little lethargic. She stands up and lays down but doesn't walk around much and seems like she is sleeping more than usual. Hoping she is getting better.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is she doing now?