Swollen vent and ?? Sticking out

[SBaltz]

Hi, brand new to chickens, and one of new babies (got her from a local store) had some poop stuck near her vent, like she sat in it vs pasty butt. We soaked it off, but I noticed her vent seemed swollen and maybe it was from the poop being on there, but her vent seemed to protrude slightly. She has been full of energy, eating, drinking, racing around and acting totally normally, but we noticed another something stuck to her vent area this afternoon and gave her bottom a warm rinse. She pooped solidly during this, with no apparent pain, but there is a small what looks like narrow piece of poop in her vent. It does not soften up, and I am afraid to pull it out. She pooped around it just fine. She was squawking occasionally when we would dab her vent, but was very calm when we vasolined it. Is it poo stuck there or something else? It is not mushy or big. I didn’t notice it there this morning but my husband thought he remembered it. I lost one to pasty butt earlier and really don’t want to lose her! Thanks

Sorry! Forgot the details. She is a light bhrama and I believe 2-3 days old

 

[CSAchook]

@Eggcessive and @Wyorp Rock are far more knowledgeable than I. Hopefully one of them can step in with advice.

 

[CSAchook]

I don’t have cream, but I do have epsom salt. Do you know the ratio? And how best do I get her to sit in a bath or should we have the water high enough up that she doesn’t need to sit?

I would not pick at the unknown thing. Leave it alone for now and hope others weigh in after you get a picture

Daily Epsom salt baths should help the vent swelling.
The bag should have instruction of how much to use. I just eyeball a table spoon or two for a small container of water ( maybe a cup of water or so). Use very warm water but not painfully hot. Check the temp against your inner wrist. I used a small, steep sided Tupperware container for the bath. Also, when I give a chick a bath, I use water just deep enough to cover the vent when the chick is standing. You will need to sort of hold her in your hand still to keep her in the bath and her vent submerged. Soak her for 5-10 minutes or until the water starts to cool. You will need to dry her VERY thoroughLy so she doesn’t chill. I gently wrap the chick in a few paper towels as soon as it comes out of the bath. Soak up as much water as you can that way, then finish drying with a hair dryer on low. Once fully dry, reapply coconut oil to her vent, then put her back under your brooder heat source.

 

[SBaltz]

Couple more stray thoughts. Nutrition-drench is always a good idea for a chick that is struggling (in my opinion). Direct dose is best, but can be given in water or food too.

Keep an eye on her energy level. Baths can be stressful and may not be a good idea if a chick seems very weak.

Did she eat well when you had her out by herself? If not you can try feeding her in the company of just one other chick. Sometimes having a buddy around makes them feel more secure and encourages appetite.

Baths... she actually likes the hair dryer! Her energy is very normal. She is sleeping or racing around the brooder chasing after the bigger girls. She is timid when they are eating, but that is more size. She has a good appetite and does drink but clearly needs more.

The first time we tried the wet mash, I held her and my daughter had to introduce her to the wet mash, which she nibbled and fell asleep. Then she realized what it was and gobbled it up. When I put the mash container (I had some in a small lid), the other girls went nuts over it. She got pushed out, so I made a second lid and she ate vigorously without being overwhelmed by the other girls. She is not the smallest, but being one of the two youngest, she is definitely the most timid.

How long can I leave the wet mash in the brooder alone? Like, will it mold or go bad before we get up in the morning? Lastly, in doing wet mash, how often is it recommended? I am looking to replace their dry feed with the wet mash (same feed) so to help her as well as keep the food area slightly(lots) cleaner, but I don’t want to feed them too little or leave it too long.

 

[CSAchook]

Baths... she actually likes the hair dryer! Her energy is very normal. She is sleeping or racing around the brooder chasing after the bigger girls. She is timid when they are eating, but that is more size. She has a good appetite and does drink but clearly needs more.

The first time we tried the wet mash, I held her and my daughter had to introduce her to the wet mash, which she nibbled and fell asleep. Then she realized what it was and gobbled it up. When I put the mash container (I had some in a small lid), the other girls went nuts over it. She got pushed out, so I made a second lid and she ate vigorously without being overwhelmed by the other girls. She is not the smallest, but being one of the two youngest, she is definitely the most timid.

How long can I leave the wet mash in the brooder alone? Like, will it mold or go bad before we get up in the morning? Lastly, in doing wet mash, how often is it recommended? I am looking to replace their dry feed with the wet mash (same feed) so to help her as well as keep the food area slightly(lots) cleaner, but I don’t want to feed them too little or leave it too long.

Glad to hear she is so energetic! If she did that well with the bath, you can repeat it daily for a couple days and see if the swelling goes down.

As far as the wet mash, I am honestly not sure how long it would keep at room temp. A few hours is probably ok, I would think, but beyond that I am not sure. Might be worth asking in a new thread, in the feeding and watering your flock section, if you are thinking of switching them over completely.

 

[SBaltz]

Ok, so we got a picture, and right now she looks pretty clean. The black thread like poopish thing was sticking directly out from the center of her vent. I saw it earlier today but did not see it in the photo.

Got coconut oil into her and on her vent. She definitely has not lost any energy or appetite. Still chirping when pooping, but hasn’t pooped since been given the oil tonight.

Her vent does look better on the outside than it did this afternoon.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The black thread like poopish thing was sticking directly out from the center of her vent. I saw it earlier today but did not see it in the photo.

@CSAchook Has given you very good instruction/suggestions!

You mention a black thread like poopish thing - could it have been the umbilical cord? How's her navel look - is it healed over?

I would continue with keep her cleaned off like you are doing. Apply your coconut oil to the vent (monitor the vent and make sure the others are not picking at it - I see no picking at this time).
Wet mash is good to give. Mine like wet feed too.

Are you using a heat lamp where chicks eat 24/7? You can put the wet feed in during the day and change it regularly (chicks love to stand and poop in it ) I usually give just small amount on a lid like you did. Dry feed is always available free choice too. You could leave wet feed overnight, but it's going to be yucky by that time.

 

[Mystique175]

Are you positive this string is coming from the vent or possibly the navel and could be umbilical cord being 2-3 days old?

 

[Mystique175]

After I replied the rest of the comments loaded
I need coffee

 

[Eggcessive]

The swollen vent looks good, just a little pooched out, probably from constipation or pasty butt. Are you using a thermometer to watch the temperature in your brooder? What is it in the warmest spot. Since pasty butt is caused by shipping stress usually, make sure that your temperature is around 90 for the first week with a cooler spot to get to, and decrease it by 5 degrees each week by raising your lamp. Drinking plenty of water may ease her constipation.