HELP! 2 Week Old Australorp Straining to poop, bulging vent when trying to poop!

[JoycieBoycie]

I'm a new Chickie Momma and I need some help!



My 2 week old Black Australorp has been straining to poop for the past 2 days. Each time she tries to poop, she chirps frantically, the poop doesn't fully come out of the vent, and the vent majorly begins to bulge, like it's possibly prolapsing?? I have to help her with a q-tip and/or warm water to get it out. She eats a lot, but I don't see her drink as often as her siblings. It seems so painful for her to poop and I'm not sure what's going on. I gave her some yogurt today and I've given her some water and olive oil by a dropper for her to drink, but no luck. I've also tried putting a little Vasaline around her vent to ease the poop out, but still no luck. I feel like if I'm not always around, she won't be able to get her poop out. I did give her some egg for the first time a few days ago, but I made sure to give her some grit with it.

Any advice to give or any clue on what's going on with her?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Not sure but I'm thinking she's not drinking enough water. Make a point in watching to see if she drinks. You could put ACV (mix 1 T - 1 gal water, helps digestion). You could also trying wetting her food, assuming you're feeding her medicated chick starter?
From what you've posted, you're doing good. That does look painful, hopefully someone with more experience will peep in...

 

[Lady of McCamley]

She may simply be constipated...if she is not drinking enough water, put some Chick Saver vitamin/electrolyte into the water (read and follow dosage carefully on the packet...some packets are highly concentrated). The Chick Saver tastes really good, like gatoraide, and most chicks drink it with relish. You could even add a little sugar to the water with ACV to create a homemade gatoraide for a day or two to get her drinking.

The other thought is she may have some residual infection going on which is creating swelling that makes it hard to defecate. You might consider putting her on some antibiotics like Duramycin-10 or Tylan. She looks swollen and red to me, and that type of redness and swelling can be indicative of omphalitis (naval infection) that can occur after hatch. Chicks will be cranky with that as well.

Try the Chick Saver and see if more fluids help, then try some antibiotics to see if that helps if simply more fluids don't help.

My thoughts,
LofMc

EDITED TO ADD: One more thought, she might have a slight prolapse which makes it a bit harder to defecate. That usually heals by itself. Just keep her hydrated, and you might give her warm mash rather than dry food.

 

[JoycieBoycie]

Thank you! Excellent advice. I've got my Chick Saver, so I'll add it to the water tonight. I really appreciate all your great input.

 

[JoycieBoycie]

I wanted to thank everyone for all the great info! I gave my lil Prissy electrolytes by water dropper through out last night and this morning, and also a starter feed mash. Today, she is still having some struggle getting the poop out, but it's much softer and smaller, so there is some progress. I also put a little coconut oil around her vent as someone else suggested. You guys are a life saver! A sincere thank you from myself and Prissy!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Glad to hear she is doing better.


...and

LofMc

 

[JoycieBoycie]

As an update to Ms. Prissy. As of last night at 3am, there was still quite a bit of straining to poop and Momma (me) having to manually remove it with a Q-tip. Instead of relying on yogurt for the probiotics, I began giving it to her in water by dropper every hour and continued with wet starter mash and molasses water. I also wrapped my hands around her and said a heart felt prayer for some healing. I woke up this morning and made her a vet appointment. Throughout today, she was doing great. No straining, no protruding vent, no cries of pain.

I kept the vet appointment anyway since it's Friday and I just wanted to make sure everything was a-okay for the weekend. The vet did a float test on her poop and checked for Cocci and everything came back normal. She said to keep doing what I'm doing. She saw no evidence of an infection. She also suggested that Ms. Prissy might be at the bottom of the pecking order, so she doesn't get as much fluid as the rest. Basically, the runt.

I'm going to continue to hydrate her manually every hour with probiotic water and molasses water (just a drop or two). I thank God for answering my prayer and hopefully Ms. Prissy will continue to get better. I honestly think the probiotic in water did the trick......and prayer