Swollen vent, poopy bum, failing to thrive week old chick

[Abigrayl]

I have a one week old chick that is not doing well. She’s half the size of her brother. I haven’t been checking them because they have a mother hen. Last night I discovered a huge lump of poo on her bum. Cleaned it off with scissors and a warm soak. This morning the vent was dirty again. Cleaned it. But compared to her brother it’s massively swollen. Do I give anitibiotocs? What does this look like? She also doesn’t come when her mom calls. She kinds of just stands around screaming like she doesn’t know what to be doing sometimes. But follows and feeds normally with her mother and brothet usually.

After her bath this morning I watched her with her Mom and brother for a bit and she is eating and she made a normal poop. I’ve separated them 3 for now in a more peaceful spot with lots of bugs and scratching space.

 

[Eggcessive]

The chick probably has pasty butt constipation and its vent has prolapsed a bit. I would give it a little coconut oil or mineral oil to lubricate the digestive tract. A little molasses will help as well. Then make sure it is eating and drinking. Keep the vent opening lubricated with a little vaseline or coconut oil and a QTip. Check it’s vent daily for more pasty butt and oiling. Some of these chicks will make it with the extra care, while some don’t. Let us know how it gets along.

 

[Abigrayl]

Hey @eggsessive, I just wanted to thank you for your advice and give you an update. It's been a week and I feel like the little one is doing better. I check once in the morning and once in the evening that nothing is blocked and put on a little macadamia nut oil (its what I had on hand and did some research and its very anti-inflammatory etc.). I try to be gentle because I read that I may have caused an issue when I tried to clean her pasty butt. She goes to bed with a full crop every night and she loves it when I turn over a log and her mama catches her a bug. There is still a protrusion - I wouldn't say its gone down - but the vent part is looking a little more like it should. I am hopeful because their bodies grow so quickly at this stage that it might still heal itself - I have seen some miraculous recoveries (from different injuries) before. So I am hoping for one this time around. But I will let you know what happens. Thanks for always being willing to reply. Have a great evening.

 

[Abigrayl]

The chick probably has pasty butt constipation and its vent has prolapsed a bit. I would give it a little coconut oil or mineral oil to lubricate the digestive tract. A little molasses will help as well. Then make sure it is eating and drinking. Keep the vent opening lubricated with a little vaseline or coconut oil and a QTip. Check it’s vent daily for more pasty butt and oiling. Some of these chicks will make it with the extra care, while some don’t. Let us know how it gets along.

Hey @eggsessive, I just wanted to give you an update, since you asked. The chick is doing very well. The vent still looks like it’s at the end of a pea but she doesn’t get pasty butt anymore. And she’s grown a lot. Still smaller than her brother but she doesn’t cry anymore. Here’s a picture. Thanks for all your help.