Still Have Concerns - Constipation and Swollen Vents

[TeresaInTexas]

It’s been two weeks since I last posted regarding my Welsummer chick. Please click on the link below to read my original post.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/round-and-fat-1-week-chick-something-wrong.1512433/

Now my chick is 3 weeks old and I am at a loss to know if there is anything else I can do? I want to get her ( I named her Flo) and my Blue Splash Maran ( I named her Claire) back into the brooder with my other 6 chick that are healthy and thriving.

Both Flo and Claire have bouts of constipation and have swollen vents. Things I have done.

I feed them organic chick starter. I add water and coconut oil and make it into a soft mash. I’ve done this for almost two weeks. By the way they go crazy running around the brooder eating the coconut oil .

1. I’ve added Nutra-Drench to their water.
2. They really don’t have pasty but anymore, however, both of their vents are still swollen. I occasionally clean small amounts of poop below and on their vents with warm water with a cotton swab. I sometime soak their vents in a epsom salt bath. I alternate and put triple antibiotic ointment and 1% hydrocortisone ointment on their vents two times daily, in the am and pm.

They both seemed to be improving and I want to get them back into the brooder with the other chicks so yesterday I feed them dry chick feed to see how they would do. Well Claire had issues pooping last night. She was able to poop without my assistance but she was chirping loudly when she did .
Also, Flo seems to be okay but as I mentioned in my first post she is still very small compared to the other birds.
Is there anything else I can do to reduce the swelling and how long do I have to give them coconut oil? How long does it take a while for the vent to heal? Again I am concerned with Flo as she is very small.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[TeresaInTexas]

It’s been two weeks since I last posted regarding my Welsummer chick. Please click on the link below to read my original post.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/round-and-fat-1-week-chick-something-wrong.1512433/

Now my chick is 3 weeks old and I am at a loss to know if there is anything else I can do? I want to get her ( I named her Flo) and my Blue Splash Maran ( I named her Claire) back into the brooder with my other 6 chick that are healthy and thriving.

Both Flo and Claire have bouts of constipation and have swollen vents. Things I have done.

I feed them organic chick starter. I add water and coconut oil and make it into a soft mash. I’ve done this for almost two weeks. By the way they go crazy running around the brooder eating the coconut oil .

1. I’ve added Nutra-Drench to their water.
2. They really don’t have pasty but anymore, however, both of their vents are still swollen. I occasionally clean small amounts of poop below and on their vents with warm water with a cotton swab. I sometime soak their vents in a epsom salt bath. I alternate and put triple antibiotic ointment and 1% hydrocortisone ointment on their vents two times daily, in the am and pm.

They both seemed to be improving and I want to get them back into the brooder with the other chicks so yesterday I feed them dry chick feed to see how they would do. Well Claire had issues pooping last night. She was able to poop without my assistance but she was chirping loudly when she did .
Also, Flo seems to be okay but as I mentioned in my first post she is still very small compared to the other birds.
Is there anything else I can do to reduce the swelling and how long do I have to give them coconut oil? How long does it take a while for the vent to heal? Again I am concerned with Flo as she is very small.

Any advice is much appreciated.View attachment 3020298View attachment 3020299View attachment 3020300View attachment 3020305

I forgot to add that I add Chick grit to their food.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Coconut oil is supposed to be fed as chunks. If I forgot to mention that.

Chick grit is something that needs to be offered on the side, not mixed in the feed.

Preperation H with aloe vera will help with the swelling. I think it's also a hydrocortisone cream.

Have you tried adding probiotics for gut health to their water? Sav-A-Chick probiotics.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I noticed your bedding is very fine, & small. I wonder if they've been eating it.

 

[TeresaInTexas]

Coconut oil is supposed to be fed as chunks. If I forgot to mention that.

Chick grit is something that needs to be offered on the side, not mixed in the feed.

Preperation H with aloe vera will help with the swelling. I think it's also a hydrocortisone cream.

Have you tried adding probiotics for gut health to their water? Sav-A-Chick probiotics.

Okay, I will separate the grit from their food. Yes, I’ve have given them Sav-A-Chick as well as probiotics from Tractor Supply which didn’t seem to work so I now give them Nutra-Drench. Not sure if that is even workIng? How long should I give them coconut oil and should I stop giving it to them at some point? They are 3 weeks how much should I give them?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Okay, I will separate the grit from their food. Yes, I’ve have given them Sav-A-Chick as well as probiotics from Tractor Supply which didn’t seem to work so I now give them Nutra-Drench. Not sure if that is even workIng? How long should I give them coconut oil and should I stop giving it to them at some point? They are 3 weeks how much should I give them?

Nutridrench is vitamins, & molasses.

How long did you have them on the probiotics?

I'd feed the coconut oil until the they can poop easier. But someone else may have a better idea.

But get the vent swelling down, & see if that makes a difference.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How hot is it in the brooder? Pasty butt seems to be more of an issue when it's hotter, so one thing to try perhaps is lowering the temperature in the brooder (if you're using a heat plate/pad, then that's fine to continue letting them have it, as long as the other areas in the brooder aren't too warm).

 

[3KillerBs]

I’ve added Nutra-Drench to their water.

Are you offering PLAIN water too? Imagine if you were never given anything to drink but a Gatorade flavor you didn't like.

It's possible to overdose on the vitamins and additives.

This thread might be useful to you: https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/24506396

 

[anchor4thesoul]

How are your chicks? I have two that are a week old with prolapsed vents… and miserable. Did your chicks get better?

 

[TeresaInTexas]

How are your chicks? I have two that are a week old with prolapsed vents… and miserable. Did your chicks get better?

My chicks are doing much better. I gave them coconut oil through a syringe needle about 1/2 tsp daily. Using the syringe needle was much easier on me and my chicks instead of trying to give it to them in small chunks. I checked their vents 2/3 times daily and put antibiotic ointment on the vents. It took a while for them to get better. You just have to be consistent with the treatments.