Straining to poo, help please

[speedyfuzzball]

How can I tell if her cloaca is deformed? Tracie is a sex link too, I think that's what golden buff is, right? That's what the person who sold her to me said she was. Could it be a problem associated with sex linked chicken? Three years seems so short when they can live up to 10 years that's what I read anyway. Is there any way to know now if she won't be able to pass an egg? I don't know what to do I'm guessing she won't be able to live if she can't pass eggs? She's such a sweetie, I don't want to lose her. Shouldn't I be seeing better results by now? I haven't given them any treats in a while, only feeding chick starter and water with probiotics. Is this a sign its a genetic problem? Yes, she is on pine shavings, I thought it was a good bedding to use??

 

[casportpony]

If she's eating the shavings, that can cause constipation... That's what the feedstore uses and I always hear constipated chicks there.

So try no bedding or just a towel and she if she improves before working yourself up into a frenzy.

FWIW, mine was a broiler rescue from the feedstore, about the same age as yours.

 

[Michael Apple]

How can I tell if her cloaca is deformed? Tracie is a sex link too, I think

that's what golden buff is, right? That's what the person who sold her to me said she was. Could it be a problem associated with sex linked chicken? Three years seems so short when they can live up to 10 years

that's what I read anyway. Is there any way to know now if she won't be able to pass an egg? I don't know what to do

I'm guessing she won't be able to live if she can't pass eggs? She's such a sweetie, I don't want to lose her. Shouldn't I be seeing better results by now? I haven't given them any treats in a while, only feeding chick starter and water with probiotics. Is this a sign its a genetic problem? Yes, she is on pine shavings, I thought it was a good bedding to use??

It may not be, but if it is, compare it to a normal one. It could be inside and not visible. Don't worry though. Production breeds often don't live as long as others. They were bred to produce and little attention paid to genetics since producers burn them out in a year and cull them.

You are creating more worry for yourself. All you can do is help the chick along during development. The one I had with a deformed cloaca was a good layer, she just needed extra attention throughout her life. Pine shavings are the common litter chicks are placed upon after 3-5 days old on paper towels, cheese cloth, etc. The reason is to get them familiar with feed before allowing them to pick through shavings. Plus, 2 day old chicks are quite clumsy and have a difficult time finding the feed and water. That's why we keep the feed in a shallow paper plate not far from the water too.

What casportpony is mentioning is a possibility since dummies at some feed stores put chicks on shavings the day they are delivered to the store. That puts the chicks in danger of ingesting some of it. Don't worry though. You are showing compassion for the chick and doing what you can. You said a few posts back that there was improvement. The stools are soft and normal but the cloaca is protruding as the droppings are pushed out? If you can, take a close up pic as the chick relieves itself, as well as the dropping.

You said she was improving since the first post 6 days ago. Is that still the case?

 

[speedyfuzzball]

I thought she was improving but it's really just going back and forth. Sometimes it comes out right away and other times she's still pushing really hard and squeaking really sad to hear about "production" breeds? What other breeds are considered to be production? I want to know if my other two will be okay. When I brought them home, I had paper towels on top of the shavings for two days and she hasn't had problems until I started introducing all those treats so I'm assuming she knows how to differentiate between food and bedding? I'll try to get a picture tonight, and I'll squish a Tracie poop as well as a normal poop for comparison. And yes, her cloaca is still protruding during defecation looks so painful

 

[speedyfuzzball]

Got some pictures!

Before pooping. Looks kind of dry?

1

2

3

After

The poop, it actually broke into two pieces and I put them next to each other

Squished it,
Feels as squishy as normal poops

She's also growing in her feathers slower than the others

 

[speedyfuzzball]

Another one

 

[Michael Apple]

Are you still using vitamin-electrolyte powder in the water? If so, what kind?

 

[speedyfuzzball]

Just probiotics in the water (probios)

 

[casportpony]

I once had a cat that had a problem called megacolon and the vets advised me to give canned pumpkin to him... I have no idea if this would work in birds, but it might be worth a try. But please, do some research on it first.

 

[Michael Apple]

Just probiotics in the water (probios)

You'll help hydrate the bird with vitamin-electrolytes like I mentioned earlier. You can use the Probios at the same time. Canned pumpkin is a good supplement for digestive problems in dogs or cats. It works both ways for diarrhea and constipation since it absorbs and is easy to pass. They also make a pumpkin powder additive for mixing in foods now. I can't remember the name of it.