Chick with pulsating tail/rear end - weird behavior. Please help!

[FeatherAndBloom]

1.5 week old Sapphire Splash chick. I’ve noticed for a few days now that her tail/butt is like pulsing when she’s resting or standing still. I can’t see that she’s obviously hurt, no drooping wings or similar. I’ve checked her vent and it looks normal to me. She’s eating and drinking but noticeably less than the her sister. Seems to be growing well compared to her sibling. She is currently housed with 12 other mixed breeds of chicks in our brooder. No other chick is showing this behavior. I watched her poop normal just before posting this and have not noticed any lethargy. An occasional loud PEEP that sounds different from the other flocks chirps and such. (It’s in the video). She is preening one wing a lot, but it doesn’t appear to be droopy or ruffled. So far I have not intervened but because it’s becoming more obvious I figured I would reach out to some knowledgeable folks and see if anyone has experienced this.

 

[coach723]

I don't see anything alarming in the video. They are feathering out, so likely the preening is because of that, sometimes they spend a lot of time removing feather sheath material. I've had chicks seem to breathe hard at times, or kind of pulse like that, they were fine. Could be from being too warm and going back to normal once their temp comes down a little. Make sure they have room to get in and out of the heat source as needed, and check with a thermometer what the actual temperature under the heat source is at their level. Too warm or too cool can both cause issues. If it's eating, drinking, pooping normally, acting normally, then I wouldn't worry too much, just continue to keep an eye on it. If poops seem to take a lot of straining, then constipation can sometimes be an issue. If that happens then you can give coconut oil to help with that. Easiest way is to freeze the oil and break into tiny pieces and feed to the chick.

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

I don't see anything alarming in the video. They are feathering out, so likely the preening is because of that, sometimes they spend a lot of time removing feather sheath material. I've had chicks seem to breathe hard at times, or kind of pulse like that, they were fine. Could be from being too warm and going back to normal once their temp comes down a little. Make sure they have room to get in and out of the heat source as needed, and check with a thermometer what the actual temperature under the heat source is at their level. Too warm or too cool can both cause issues. If it's eating, drinking, pooping normally, acting normally, then I wouldn't worry too much, just continue to keep an eye on it. If poops seem to take a lot of straining, then constipation can sometimes be an issue. If that happens then you can give coconut oil to help with that. Easiest way is to freeze the oil and break into tiny pieces and feed to the chick.

Thank you for the helpful reply! I will definitely keep an eye on her and confirm that she’s eating, drinking and pooping normally.

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

I don't see anything alarming in the video. They are feathering out, so likely the preening is because of that, sometimes they spend a lot of time removing feather sheath material. I've had chicks seem to breathe hard at times, or kind of pulse like that, they were fine. Could be from being too warm and going back to normal once their temp comes down a little. Make sure they have room to get in and out of the heat source as needed, and check with a thermometer what the actual temperature under the heat source is at their level. Too warm or too cool can both cause issues. If it's eating, drinking, pooping normally, acting normally, then I wouldn't worry too much, just continue to keep an eye on it. If poops seem to take a lot of straining, then constipation can sometimes be an issue. If that happens then you can give coconut oil to help with that. Easiest way is to freeze the oil and break into tiny pieces and feed to the chick.

She’s still pulsing like this a week later and now I’ve noticed that her sis (same age same breed) is feathering faster and getting bigger than her. I’m still seeing her eat and drink and poop normal, but she seems to be falling behind. Anything you would do in my shoes? I can try for a pic if that would help but I don’t want to stress her out. Thank you!

 

[coach723]

There isn't much you really can do. Males in some breeds feather out different than females, so whether that is a factor here, I can't say. If there is something wrong internally, it's very hard to know. If it's eating, drinking, pooping normally, all you can really do is watch and see how it goes. I know it's hard when they are so small.
I once had a chick that seemed slower than the others. At several days old I had to give fluids and carry the chick around with me, as it seemed to be failing. She rallied, and went back with the others, but never seemed quite right. She died suddenly at about 20 weeks, and necropsy showed a very seriously enlarged heart, not sure how she even made it that long. Not saying that to scare you, just to illustrate that it's really hard to know exactly what goes on sometimes. Hopefully your chick will be fine, time will tell.

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

There isn't much you really can do. Males in some breeds feather out different than females, so whether that is a factor here, I can't say. If there is something wrong internally, it's very hard to know. If it's eating, drinking, pooping normally, all you can really do is watch and see how it goes. I know it's hard when they are so small.
I once had a chick that seemed slower than the others. At several days old I had to give fluids and carry the chick around with me, as it seemed to be failing. She rallied, and went back with the others, but never seemed quite right. She died suddenly at about 20 weeks, and necropsy showed a very seriously enlarged heart, not sure how she even made it that long. Not saying that to scare you, just to illustrate that it's really hard to know exactly what goes on sometimes. Hopefully your chick will be fine, time will tell.

Thank you! Definitely hard to sit tight and wait, but you’re right, all signs point to either fine and just a slight outlier (hey, happens to humans too!) or something internal that’s way beyond my control. I’m watching for all the communicable diseases, managing environment, social stressors and nutrition. Appreciate you taking the time to help me out!