HELP! My chick is plugged!

[MamaJohnson]

Yesterday one little chick had some poop dried on her vent, so I rinsed her well, all looked good, and back she went into the brooder. But this morning her "pooper" is swelled and very enlarged, and when I rinsed off the poop that covered her vent, it was quickly obvious that there is a good amount of poop stuck inside as well. I soaked her off and on for almost an hour in warm running water, carefully used a Q-tip and toothpick to remove as much as a could. I've had her a clean box so I can see if she poops any out, and so far, nothing, and she does not look much better. What more can I do?

 

[Lunachick]

Keep checking her vent and keep cleaning the poo off. I currently have one that gets pasty butt. Maybe you can put a little vaseline on her bum after you clean it. She's eating and drinking OK? Otherwise it sounds like you're doing the best you can.

 

[MamaJohnson]

I'll do the Vaseline. Not sure about her eating and drinking - I've got her separated from the rest of the chicks so I can monitor pooping. I'll put her own little waterer in there and some feed and start monitoring her eating. Should I put some sugar in that water? I've been reading on BYC that that can help loosen things up. She's just 1 week old though - is that safe for her?

 

[willowcol]

Not sur if it would work but maybe a bit of oliveoil would help loosen whats stuck inside up enough that she could get it out.

 

[Lunachick]

I don't like to use sugar in the water, but that's me. I use distilled water in a jug and put a couple tablespoons of ACV in it & fill their waterer with that. Someone on here said it helped her problem with pasty butt. Is she acting OK? If she seems weak, I'd put children's polyvisol (without the iron) - a couple of drops along her beak each day.

Also, watch to see if she's eating any of the bedding.

 

[MamaJohnson]

She seems to be acting OK. It's kinda hard to tell though, since for the last 3 hours I've been dunking/wiping her down - not necessarily a "normal" morning for her. Update though - I've gotten a LOT of poop out, and the vent is not as enlarged anymore.

I hope I'm on the right track. I like the Olive oil idea too. This last cleaning I wiped her down good with Vaseline all around the vent. I'll swab a little olive oil just on the inside and see if that helps. For those of you who've dealt with this before, will she eventually poop out one big glob or something?