Vent Blocked!!??

[ms.cluckling]

First question...where is the vent?? My chicken has two holes in its rear end, one for poop, and the other for who know's what (probably for pee)
Anyway, is the bottom/lower hole the vent? If it isn't what is it?
My chick's bottom hole is crusty, white, and dry. it has something blocking it, I'm sure.
Also, he is constantly making diarrhea.
Info about him (if it helps):
Age: 4 days old
Breed:White leghorn
Location:In the brooder.
Gender: unknown (I just call it a he)
What is wrong with my chick?

 

[nivtup]

There is only suppose to be one hole on a chicken.

Sounds like pasty butt.

 

[Tala]

Only one hole on chickens. White crusty stuff is their equivalent to "pee"
Chicks sometimes get pasty butt, or "pasting up" and it can kill them! Best to run their bum under warm water until you can remove the crusty poop. Dry it as good as you can and he will finish drying under the heat lamp. Smear a little Vaseline or mineral/baby oil on to prevent poop from sticking so much. Keep an eye on them, coz if they stay pasted up they will die.

 

[dwegg]

no I thought that also but i think it is the belly button you are seeing...the vent is the top one and under that is the bellybutton...leave that alone...when I checked my new chicks I thought it was dried poop but it is the tiny remains of the belly button...I THINK? don't touch it or try to pull it off you'll hurt/kill the chick...

anyone know better? just my experience....

 

[speckledhen]

At the top is the vent where poop and urates come out. On the bottom, the crusty thing is the navel--don't pull that open! The vent must stay unblocked or the chick will die. Pasty butt is a condition that most often occurs in shipped chicks. Some unfiltered apple cider vinegar in their water, a couple of teaspoons, seems to help that. Sugar water will make them have runny poop and you don't want that, either.

 

[ms.cluckling]

thank you. it turns out that the blocked hole IS just the belly button, "blocked" withthe ramains of the umbilical cord. Thank god I didn't pull it out!