Straining to poo, help please

[speedyfuzzball]

Hi everyone, I've got an 11 day old chick who is straining to go to the bathroom and chirps loudly while doing so. Stool looks and feels (yea I inspected it lol) dry. It looks like she tries really hard to push it out and I was wondering if there was anything I could do for her. She does get it out eventually but it doesn't seem normal. She seems healthy otherwise but I don't want her to be in such discomfort while going to the bathroom

 

[casportpony]

Same thing going on with this one:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/777390/constipated-5-day-old-guinea-keet-help

 

[speedyfuzzball]

Oo so feed some applesauce or olive oil?

 

[casportpony]

I squeeze them.

 

[casportpony]

Do not force feed oil, you can kill them doing that!

 

[speedyfuzzball]

:/ well she does get it out eventually, I was just wondering if there was a way to help her pass stools more easily, I mean I can't be squeezing her every time she has to go lol she seems constipated. Also her crop seems bigger than the other two, should I be worried about that?

 

[casportpony]

You could try mixing baby applesauce into a wet crumble. The key to avoiding constipation is water. The baby apple sauce is what is suggested on the back of my baby bird food bag, it's supposed to help with crop slowdown.

 

[speedyfuzzball]

Hello, I tried the apple sauce yesterday and got molasses and yogurt today so I'll see how that goes but for now it seems to be getting worse.. I'm so scared I feel so bad for the poor girl, it looks so painful when she tries to go to the bathroom but she's clearly straining hard and her vent looks red and protruded. She's getting poops out after trying for a while but I don't want her to be in pain every time she has to poo how long is it normally supposed to take for the molasses and yogurt to work? Do I put molasses in the water every day? Can I give yogurt everyday? I'm so worried... I can't stop thinking about her.. Do you guys think she'll make it? What could the problem be??

 

[Michael Apple]

What have you been feeding the chick before the constipation started? Were you using any supplements in the water?

 

[Michael Apple]

Hello, I tried the apple sauce yesterday and got molasses and yogurt today so I'll see how that goes but for now it seems to be getting worse.. I'm so scared

I feel so bad for the poor girl, it looks so painful when she tries to go to the bathroom but she's clearly straining hard and her vent looks red and protruded. She's getting poops out after trying for a while but I don't want her to be in pain every time she has to poo

how long is it normally supposed to take for the molasses and yogurt to work? Do I put molasses in the water every day? Can I give yogurt everyday? I'm so worried... I can't stop thinking about her.. Do you guys think she'll make it? What could the problem be??

No. Do not put molasses in the water every day. If you use molasses as a laxative, the dose should be 1.5 oz per quart and don't let the bird drink for more than 4 hours from it. Replace with normal water after 4 hours and you should see laxative action in an hour. Once the bird starts relieving itself, you can then use Probiotics in the water. I do not suggest yogurt for chicks since the added calcium is destructive to the kidneys in addition to bone development. Sav-A-Chick with probiotics would be acceptable. Probios soluble powder carried at most feed stores is labeled for birds and contains no calcium.