What does it mean when a child's vent is swollen?

[astralorpeffect]

We have a chick who won't drink unlike we given by dropper, and it has been having vent problems for several days now. What can we do to get it to drink and get the swelling down? The two older ones have been pecking at the crusted vent til it bleeds and we don't know what to except separate the weak one which we are currently keeping warm. Help?
Thanks.

 

[rebrascora]

It sounds like pasty butt and you need to soak the chicks bottom in a cup of warm water and gently rub it's vent to release all the caked poop. It will be swollen because it is clogged up and only a small amount of urates can pass and these crust up even more. Regular bathing and then I would apply an antiseptic ointment if the chick has been pecked. It will die if you don't get in unblocked, so don't delay. You can understand it not wanting to drink if it cannot poop. A moist cotton bud (q-tip) is a useful tool for gently easing the caked poop off it's vent after you have soaked it. Be careful to supervise the chick whilst it is soaking so that it doesn't drown. Soak for a good 10-15 mins each time.
Usually pasty butt is a symptom of the brooder being too hot.... you may want to check that and perhaps reduce the temperature or create a cooler part in the brooder where the food and water are.

Good luck

Barbara

 

[astralorpeffect]

Thank you sooooo much,what kind of antiseptic ointment?
Thanks,
Australorpeffect

 

[redsoxs]

It sounds like pasty butt and you need to soak the chicks bottom in a cup of warm water and gently rub it's vent to release all the caked poop. It will be swollen because it is clogged up and only a small amount of urates can pass and these crust up even more. Regular bathing and then I would apply an antiseptic ointment if the chick has been pecked. It will die if you don't get in unblocked, so don't delay. You can understand it not wanting to drink if it cannot poop. A moist cotton bud (q-tip) is a useful tool for gently easing the caked poop off it's vent after you have soaked it. Be careful to supervise the chick whilst it is soaking so that it doesn't drown. Soak for a good 10-15 mins each time.
Usually pasty butt is a symptom of the brooder being too hot.... you may want to check that and perhaps reduce the temperature or create a cooler part in the brooder where the food and water are.

Good luck

Barbara

Great advice! Hope all turns out well and welcome to BYC!!!

 

[rebrascora]

Depends where you are in the world and what's available there. Here in the UK I'm a big fan of Germolene, but I hear US folk talk about Neosporin I think.....someone correct me if I'm wrong. Anything you would use yourself. The greasier the better as grease will stop more poop sticking. I believe it may be best to avoid anything with anaesthetic type properties usually suffixed with ocaine....like benzocaine and lignocaine as I understand that chickens have a low tolerance for it

 

[drumstick diva]

Neosporin (NO caine)

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under astralorpeffect

Welcome!

Great advice from rebrasocra. Best wishes to you and your little one.

You might want to also pop in and say hello on your local thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you ‘Find your State’s thread.

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out

 

[N F C]

You've received some good advice so I'll just say hello and hope your chick is ok.

 

[CuzChickens]

Hello, and welcome to the forum! I am so glad you decided to join us today, and I hope you will make yourself at home here and enjoy it as much as I have!

~Cuz