Help!! Chick Constipation

[indego_88]

Had eight week old chick with droopy wings and not very interested in food. She was like this for over a week and got worse. We isolated her from our other 2 chicks and kept her inside.

Last night, with help.. she passed a 20cm long poo which was quite fiberous. Very big for a little small chick! She is very week and today we are force feeding her with egg yolk, yogurt and honey with added vitamins and minerals. We are also giving her water. We do this with a dropper about every hour and she has about 30ml. She also just recently had a little peck at some crumbles.

Is there anything else we can do to help her?

 

[sammi]

what you are feeding and the honey should help..
but a little mineral oil around the vent area might help also.

do you have any chick vitamins?
what bedding are you using?
could the chick have eaten bedding?
check the crop..make sure it isn't impacted.

what are you feeding?
what temp is the brooder?
the chick might have got a chill..

 

[indego_88]

I have been giving the chick powder vitamins it the water and am using sawdust bedding. I haven't seen her eat the bedding but she had been outside and had eaten a lot of grass, so i think that may have clogged her up.

I had heard you check the crop but am unsure how??

We are feeding her chicken raiser. The chick is in a stable temperature, so no it couldnt be that.

Her sickness is definitly due to her constipation. We just didn't know she was constipated until we pulled this massive 20cm long poo out of her. poor thing

so she was constipated for atleast 2 weeks.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Eight weeks should be a time of recoice, not problems. They are good with the temperatures above 60 degrees and they should be eating and drinking without a hitch. Do make sure you are feeding starter still. You can give a 50/50 starter/poultry grain. You can feed some yogurt and do give electrolytes.

Be sure the chick is not eating the bedding, some do. Be sure the chick has PLENTY of water, they drink a bunch at this age. Glad the chick managed to get its waste out. Do check the crop for a few days and make sure it is full/empty at the appropriate times.

Keep em warm and stress free for awhile.

 

[indego_88]

How much should she be drinking and eating per hour?

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Sure, Just let em have free choice and look at your feeder in a day or so. If you have one of those small wateres which hold about 4 cups:

you should see one chick go through one fourth of this every 24 to 36 hours. I do not fill mine to the brim. I fill it about half way and change it daily.

water is more important than feed, but just be sure the chick is eating well.

 

[sammi]

I think I'd get rid of the sawdust bedding..
the chick might have eaten some..
and don't allow her on the grass for a while.
just feed with some yogurt, and egg yolk.

how are you force feeding her?
how are you giving her water?
don't pour the water down the throat..give by drops on beak to avoid aspiration..

to check the crop..
the crop is like a little sac near the bottom of the neck on top of the breast..slightly to the chick's right.
in the morning, before the chick eats, the crop should be empty or flat.
feel for any lumps, or grainy feeling.
post back about the crop.
it might help to give the chick a tiny piece of bread soaked in vegetable oil..or a few drops of oil on feed.
a little watered molasses might help.

if the chick is eating feed, she might be ok..she could be weak from the constipation and not eating properly.

as rimshoes posted..chick or starter feed should be still be given as feed...mixed with grower feed..
what brand is the "Chicken Raiser"?..does it have labeled for age of birds?

keep an eye on the droppings.

fingers crossed for the chick.

 

[indego_88]

I am force feeding her egg yolk, honey and yogurt and also water every hour by putting a bit on the beak and letting her swallow it. She has about 40mL each hour, but im really not sure how much i should be giving her. she has also been eating her crums today which is a really good sign because she hasnt done that in days.

thanks for the info about the crop, ill check that. she has been doing poos which is also a positive sign. and ill do the oil too.

her water and food is always available to her but shes so weak and tired she doesnt bother with it much.

thank you very much for your help! the poor little girl has had a Very rough time.