Prolapsed Vent in Chick?

[Aunt Angus]

Howdy. I have a Sebright I picked up at a feed store, age estimated at about a week, maybe two (give or take). It eats, drinks, poops, and runs around just like a chick is supposed to. However, its vent protrudes. There's no pasty butt or diarrhea or redness or blood or pain or any of that. Is it prolapse? I put witch hazel on it and prep h (after this photo was taken). I know prolapse in chicks is bad juju. I'd appreciate thoughts/advice. It is the friendliest, cutest, cuddliest, silliest little thing - TONS of personality, so I'd like to do right by it especially after the 3 losses earlier his week in a shipping mishap.

The dang vent sticks out quite a bit. The pics don't show it well, I fear. But it's hard to hold the chick in one hand and take a photo with the other at a good angle.

Brooder is a small animal cage with DIY MHP. I checked temp: 91.3. Using puppy pads right now to keep it super clean. Organic starter, 20%. Water with Nutri Drench @ "weak tea" strength. Poops are normal. Hope I'm just being my worrywart self.

Thanks in advance!

ETA: I searched this topic all over the place. Most involved constipation and/or blood. Don't want y'all to think I didn't try to find answers before posting.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It's a protruding vent. Chicks can hatch with that. It almost always resolves on its own.

Do check its abdomen to make sure it's not squishy or red and puffy. Omphalitis (infection of naval site) can occur with slow closing or impartially closed navals which often accompany a protruding vent.

If you are really, really worried, you can try inserting it with vaseline or Preparation H, but you risk hurting the chick more than helping. However, they tend to pop right back out. Again, they almost always resolve on their own.

Congratulations on your new hatch.

LofMc

 

[Aunt Angus]

Good news - thank you! I searched for protruding vent and came up with only vent prolapse. Protruding vent as you describe it makes more sense to me given how normal the chick is otherwise. Thank you!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

You're welcome.

 

[Megzzz]

Good news - thank you! I searched for protruding vent and came up with only vent prolapse. Protruding vent as you describe it makes more sense to me given how normal the chick is otherwise. Thank you!

Hi! I know this was back in 2019 but I have a week old chick that has the same thing (she’s had it since we got her). She acts totally normal - eating and drinking and pooping but I can’t get the vent back in. What ended up happening with yours?? How long did it take to go back in?

 

[Megzzz]

You're welcome.

How long do you leave it until I should become worried? I have a week old chick that has the same thing of protruding vent (she’s had it since we got her). She acts totally normal - eating and drinking and pooping but I can’t get the vent back in.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I honestly don't remember. It couldn't have been long or I would have taken him to a vet. He turned out just fine, and it corrected itself just as Lady McC said it would. I stopped trying to put it back in.

I'd probably just watch closely. It there's not puffiness in the abdomen, no red and exposed tissue (prolapse), and no really bad pasty butt, I'm sure it'll be fine!

Here he is now:

 

[Lady of McCamley]

How long do you leave it until I should become worried? I have a week old chick that has the same thing of protruding vent (she’s had it since we got her). She acts totally normal - eating and drinking and pooping but I can’t get the vent back in.

At a week of age, this is very common. By the time it is one month old, I have almost never seen a protruding vent remaining.

So give it about a month.

LofMc