Newbie!! Prolapsed Baby Chicken Rectum

[SacheenVela]

Newbie Here: Help! My 1 week old mosaic, that was hatched from momma hen has what I think is prolapse. Tried pushing back in with some Vaseline and sugar, what Was suggested in another group and that didn’t work it just kept coming back out every time she would chirp, is there a way to fix it? Then while I was doing that I noticed what looked like mites crawling on her!! im always so careful about mites, so everything I can to prevent, but I guess I wasn’t good enough. She looks really tiny too compared to the other babies and she keeps scratching her bottom and momma keeps pecking at it. I feel so defeated! I don’t know what to do. Will she survive? What’s the best way to get rid of mites in an old barn that has dirt floor. Thank you in advance! I don’t want to lose her, I’ve waited so long to get her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome TO BYC

The poor little thing.
It looks like the vent has been damaged from Mama and/or her picking at it.

You'll need to separate her so Mama can't pick at her vent. Bringing her inside may be the best option at this point. Do provide a warm spot for her with a heating pad, brooder plate, etc.

If she's got mites, then you'll want to dust her and get rid of those before bringing her in. For a chick, I'd use Permethrin dust.

Hard to tell how much damage there is because of the angle of the photo. Do you see any maggots on the vent or in the wound?
Wash the vent gently with saline, diluted betadine or Chlorhexidine. Apply triple antibiotic ointment or you can use an anti-inflammatory cream. You want the tissue to stay relatively moist and not dry out.

I'd get her hydrated. Give her small chunks of coconut oil to eat a couple of times a day, this may help her poo a little easier. Offer wet feed.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Welcome to BYC! @azygous gives good advice, that is what I would do also. sorry this happened.
Best wishes!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. I agree with @Wyorp Rock . The only thing I would suggest in addition is to provide the chick a mirror for company. The prognosis is not optimal.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Best of luck with that poor little thing!

Welcome to BYC! @azygous gives good advice, that is what I would do also. sorry this happened.
Best wishes!

That she does but @Wyorp Rock gives good advice too and she is the one that replied.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC. I'm sorry for your stress. I hope everything works out for you and the chick.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Best of luck with that poor little thing!


That she does but @Wyorp Rock gives good advice too and she is the one that replied.

I’m sorry, I missed her post. You’re absolutely right, her advice is fantastic!

 

[swampfox440]

Hi, welcome to BYC! and good advice. Pleased to meet you and thanks for joining us.

 

[azygous]

I agree with the advice @Wyorp Rock gave. The cause of any prolapse is most often an obstruction. Coconut oil is the correct treatment. Divide a half a teaspoon of coconut oil into tiny bits and chill until solid, then feed into its beak. Get it all in. Likely it's constipated.

Cortisone cream can help the swelling of the prolapse and I'd also use Vetericyn on it.


A chick of this nature is often a failure-to-thrive victim. This means they may have internal equipment not completely developed. It will require hand feedings and sugar water to generate calories to generate body heat.

It will need comforting and a warm snuggly fleece cloth can help. A dark environment under a heating pad within the snuggly cloth can help it to feel comforted and secure.

 

[Grammy60]

Hello and welcome to BYC So happy you have joined our flock.

Best of luck with your little chick