Please help with my chick's prolapsed vent!!

[Niwatori ga suki]

Hi everyone! I am very new to the forums and to raising chickens. I have a 4-day old chick with a prolapsed vent, and I don't know what to do to stop the bleeding. We cleaned it and sprayed it with Wound-Kote, but does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do next? We put her back with the other chicks her age, but they started to peck at her again so we isolated her from the others to prevent further injury. Please help us! We just lost another chick last night due to a overheating and a plugged craw, we don't want to lose any more babies!


Thanks in advance.

 

[PunkinPeep]

A prolapsed vent can't heal, and the chick won't live unless you can push it back in. If the vent is prolapsed, she can't poop, and if she stops pooping, she can't eat, etc. A chick's vent is so small, and this might be difficult. I would try using a q-tip and take some of the cotton off to make it smaller. I would also put something on it to lubricate it. Cold temps help inflammation go down, so soak his butt in cool water for a couple of minutes before trying to push it back in.

I have had a prolapsed vent in a chick before - but not this young.

At this age, with that kind of a problem, i would strongly consider putting an end to the darling's suffering. I'm sorry to say that.

It is possible that you will be able to pop that vent back in, and it won't pop back out. So give it a try, but if that doesn't work, or it won't stay in, please consider the quality of life. She will starve to death if let go too long.

 

[Niwatori ga suki]

Thank you for replying!!!! She is still quite lively and is eating AND (not yelling) pooping. I really don't want to lose her, I only have two RIR (including her) left after losing the other one last night. I will give it a try but I'm still open to suggestions!



Thanks in advance.

 

[Niwatori ga suki]

Hi y'all, update:

I went to go check on my other two chickies (one RIR, one Red Star), and now my other RIR is having problems of the same nature. I think it's either the Red Star is being a bully or just stay away from Callahan's chicks.

 

[MotherJean]

Can you post some photos of the two chicks with what you're calling a "prolapsed vent?" I'm curious that you've also said that you lost two chicks to "overheating and a plugged craw." Overheating can cause pasty butt and am wondering if that has anything to do with your problem. Also, what are you feeding just hatched chicks that resulted in a "plugged craw?" More information from you will yield better advice from BYC members.

 

[Niwatori ga suki]

I'm sorry, it was water that was stuck in their craw (when we massaged it, water came out of her beak).

We don't really own a camera that could get the details clear... AND we have sprayed the wound kote on them. We put sugar on the vents and also tried the q-tip trick. It just made them poop. We are feeding them chick starter we got at Buck Moores.(not organic) These sick babies came from Callahan's.... the ones that seem to be alright are from B.Moore's.... I'm wondering if that is part of the problem. Probably not. (Callahan's was the only place we could find Rhode I. Reds and Red Stars.) Maybe its a breed-thing?
It is nice to have someone to talk to.... thank you everybody.

Just a side bar.... I was reading about backyard weeds that might make them sick. I have sorrels everywhere! I even gave some to the babies to play with...... The list of weeds bad for chickens is a mile long. I grew up around chickens... and never knew its sooo complicated.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Was the vent actually inverted? I'm wondering if we're talking about the same condition here. I wouldn't expect a chick with a truly prolapsed vent to be doing much pooping. Can you describe the condition in more detail if you can't take a picture?

Also, what made you think the water was stuck in the crop? Water that chicks have recently had to drink will easily come up even by picking them up, if your hand puts a little pressure on the crop.

 

[Niwatori ga suki]

Well... the anus/vent was bleeding and protruding. The neck of that one chick had a very large water bubble. They all look better this morning. We also got some prepH for them. I think its going to be a bumpy ride and a day by day adventure.

 

[PunkinPeep]

So glad to hear they seem to be doing better!

 

[muzzafamily]

I have a 6 week old chick with I think a prolapse vent when she poops a red blob comes out I have googled and checked this site and have pushed it back several times but pops out again when she poops. I tried looking for prep h but no one had any so I have something similar and am using that. Please advise as don't want to lose her