swollen chick

[polenslager]

We are brand new to chickens..
We have seven chicks, they are plymouth rock pullets, and we have had them for about a month, got them as tiny babies at the farm and feed store.
One is very swollen today. The whole body is huge.. she walks with a waddle and she is
eating and drinking with the rest of the chicks.
Yesterday she seemed fine, not swollen.
I had my husband pick her up so I could look at her better. Besides being big she seems fine.
I checked her butt.. and it looks fine.. I sort of "whiped" it a few times with a paper towel to
see if she was all pasted up.. looks fine and she squawked at that, and when we put her down
she pooped twice.. say maybe an inch long droppings twice.. so she is pooping..
her chest feels full of fluid..

They are all in an enclosed house, with a heat lamp and clean shavings..
any ideas on what is wrong or what else information wise that might help??

 

[DuckLady]

Keep an eye on her. If you wiped her bottom and she pooped alot, she might be backed up. See if keeping her bottom clear helps.

 

[polenslager]

Thanks for the reply..
she made it through the night, looks about the same. She is standing up.

would medicated food help? feeding baby chick food the feed store suggested..
I poured it into a clean large tupperware container and didnt save the bag so I dont
recall what the brand name was.

Im going to call the feed store where we got them and see if they have any ideas too...

 

[polenslager]

Well the feed store says that they dont sell medicated food for chicks. They dont think its
necessary.. They do say you should put terimicine (spelling?) in the water for the first
few months.

They have no clue, say maybe she has over ate.. or just a bad chick.

 

[thechickenchick]

Quote:
YOU SAID IT! The FS told me so many things about getting into chickens. Then I found this site and found out just that, they have NO clue. I mean no offense to any one as I am sure there are some employees that grew up doing this and do know their stuff. I just dont seem to be lucky enough to talk to the right ones! I have a feed store horror story. Happened a few days ago and still makes me sick thinking about it. I dont want to hijack your thread so I will post my own later. When I am not so upset about it and can think clearer!

 

[polenslager]

Well I put the antibiotic in the water. I used the amount from I post I searched for on this forum.

I put two teaspoons in a gallon of water.. I hope that is right. Put it in their water.
My fat/swollen chick waddles over with the rest and drank some twice while I was out in the coop.
She ate some food too when I added some fresh to their feeder..
So besides the being so huge she is still eating and drinking.
Its going be cold this weekend and snow again, in the 20's so I put in another lamp in the coop
since its only 48 to 53 degrees in their.

So far we are holding on.

 

[thechickenchick]

Polenslager... How are things this morning? Is she better? Where are you? Just curious because that sounds just like our weather forecast this weekend. We could get 8-15 inches of snow on the plains. Darn I cant go to town if it gets that bad Actually that is a sarcastic comment because I LOVE not having to go to town. As long as there is food for the family, chickens, dogs and cats included then I am happy!

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I know this may end up sounding stupid, but oh well, here goes. You said they are plymouth rock......what color? Is it possible that a cornish X got in with yours and maybe you just didn't notice she was getting bigger? Just a thought. Maybe you could post a pic of her?

 

[thechickenchick]

Hey Luvmychicknkids! That is a great question? Why didn't I think of that? That could very well be it, the poor little thing isnt sick, just fat!( Iknow how he feels!

)

 

[d.k]

*Does it seem to eat more than the rest of them?? If you post pics-- have on of the others in it for comparison. Maybe it's actually a little older than the others??