help! my baby chick isnt doing well!

[aeg1001]

i have a chick that was born sat and doesnt do anything but lay there and it almost looks like its gasping for air... there is something around his vent that is hard and he peeps up a storm if i try to touch it, i am scared i am hurting him. should i clean it off anyways??

 

[gckiddhouse]

Can you post a pic?

If there is poop on its vent and it can't properly eliminate, then the chick will die if you don't clean it. How long has it been that way?

If it is what is called "pasty butt", then you can run its tail end under warm water to soften it and make it come off easily.

Has the chick been up and running and then got sick, or has it always been lethargic?

 

[TXmom]

If it's pasty butt...it HAS to be cleaned ASAP. Sometimes poop sticks to the fluff or just doesn't fall all the way out, it dries hard on the vent, and they cannot go to the bathroom. They get backed up with poop and it is fatal in a short time. Run his little behind under some warm water until the poop gets soft, then wipe it off with paper towel or cotton ball/swab. He will probably let out a huge poop in a few seconds after you unplug him.

HOWEVER, if it's not actually on the vent, then it could be the dried up yolk sack. I don't know anything about this because I've never had that. I don't think you should mess with it, but hopefully someone else will comment on that issue.

PICS are always helpful!

 

[jbowyer01]

She might have pasty but. Take some warm water and keep dabbing it on his bottom. gentley remove the poo (it might take a little time, just dont yank it off because it'll hurt the little one) It should start to break apart. Dry his little bum off and put a small amount of vaseline around his vent so the poo wont stick and keep an eye on him. Hope it alworks out. You'll have to keep checking to make sure the little ones vent stays clear.

 

[Break an Egg]

The chick probably has pasty butt that has blocked him up. If he can't poo he will die. Wash it off with some warm water and scrub softly with a cotton ball. Then try and clip the fluff that the poop is sticking to. Also put some veg oil on it's butt to keep the poo from sticking. good luck

 

[Britney]

What color is the hardened area around the chicks vent? I hope that it absorbed the yolk sac all of the way. I had 1 that hatched with a hard redish in color bubble around the vent area and it seemed to get harder, then we had to cull the chick because it would not move and seemed to be in pain. Good luck

 

[aeg1001]

yes it was pasty butt! and he did let a big poo right after i cleaned it off. this is my first case of this, poor little guy i hope he makes it. yesterday he was wobbling around the brooder and seemed fine. then when the other one hatched last night and was running circles around him i was concerned. can i do anything more for him now? i will watch and make sure he stays clean. i feel like such a bad mommy

 

[Britney]

Aw. don't feel that way. There is only so much that we can do for newly hatched chicks. you can try to give it some tri vi sol with out iron just 2 or 3 drops.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Don't feel bad! We live & we learn & sometimes learn the hard way. You were smart to notice the problem and to take steps to learn what to do. Asking questions on BYC = BRILLIANT!

Perhaps you could offer your chicks some minced cooked egg, scrambled or hard-boiled. That always seems to perk them up if they seem weak. Keep us posted on their progress!

 

[aeg1001]

should i try giving him some drops of water or should i let him come around in his own time?? its been awhile since i loaded a picture on here, its been awhile. his eyes arn't open, and he wont stand, so i don't know if he would even try to eat anything.