Hello everyone. This is the first time of ever raising chicks. Thankfully I have learned a lot searching through posts. My chicks are 9 days old. This afternoon I noticed one of the Mottled Houdan chicks had poo stuck to its rearend. I gently used a warm washcloth and cleaned it. However, after I was done I noticed his/her, um, well, anus is protruding out a little bit. And it it sort of looks like it is pulsating. Is this anything to be worried about? As soon as I put the chick back into the trough he/she started cleaning its rearend. The other chicks are fine. I clean their trough twice daliy with a kitty litter scoop. Change their water twice daily with lukewarm water. Clean their food container once daily. Once a week I replace the shavings with fresh. I use pine shavings. The chick food is Purina Mills Start & Grow Sunfresh recipe. Also one more thing, when I was holding the chick its heartbeat was very elevated and it kept closing his/her eyes like they were drowsy. Do you think the little chick will be alright? Are these things I should worry about? Thank you.
First, the thing you may have seen could have been the vent. If that area was swollen, it could have looked like some of the inside was coming out. Without seeing a picture of it, it is difficult to tell you which way for sure. Second, I'm posting my "cure" for pasty butt. Tools needed: small bowl or jar, warm water, paper towels, q-tips, lubricant (olive oil, veggie oil, Vaseline, k-y jelly), hair dryer (optional) Step 1: Put warm water in a small bowl. You want it deep enough for the chicks bottom to be covered with water. Don't make the water too hot or too cold, it needs to be around the same temperature you would wash a human baby in. Let the chick soak for about 5 minutes. Do not leave the chick unattended for ANY reason. Step 2: Remove the chick from the water and wipe it's rear gently with paper towels, baby wipes, whatever you have. Once the vent is cleared, the chick may poop... A LOT. If it does, wipe that away as well. Step 3: Finish drying the chick. You can use a hair dryer (be careful not to burn by having the heat too high or too close), more paper towels, whatever. You just want to get the chick as dry as possible. Step 4: Take a q-tip and use it to apply the lubricant to the vent and the feathers surrounding the vent. This is to help prevent it from recurring. Thirdly, the elevated heartbeat could be several things, fright, stress, just being little (younger and smaller animals have higher heartrates). When they close their eyes it is how they help themselves handle stress. That is why people use hoods when handling some birds (hawks, falcons, whatever). Lastly, I think your chick is fine but do be sure to keep an eye on the pasty butt. It can kill if it isn't kept in check.
It's normal for chicks to kindof shiver and/or get a fast heartbeat when you pick them up. It's scary to be grabbed by giants!!
Thank you for your help. The chick doesn't have poo on its rearend this morning so I am guessing maybe it was a one time thing. I will continue to monitor them very closely. I laughed about your post being picked up by giants. My heart would race too if a giant picked me up! Ha Ha Thanks again.
