Runty Appenzeller Chick has Soft Bulge Beneath Vent (pics)

[Wilkinsbird]

Hi! This is my first post on byc.

I have a days-old female appezeller chick I'm a little worried about. I bought her from Freehling Farms in Kittaning PA two days ago. She had a little bit of poop stuck on her vent, but I gently cleaned it off. There was also a trace amount of dried blood the seemed to have come from her vent. She continues to have runny poop that sticks to her behind. She's not as active, coordinated, feathered, or large as the two other appenzellers I purchased. The down from under her vent to about the middle of her belly is missing. This is also where she has a slight soft bulge that the other chicks do not have, which is my main concern.

The other two are happy as can be, very active, eating, peeping, pooping, preening, etc. She is less active, but still peeps (softly), walks and runs around and can be very quick. She eats her chick crumbles, though I have not seen her drink yet.

I have given everyone a couple small TB syringe drops of Nutridrench every day since arrival for extra support. I wait for them to do their little licky swallow bit before putting more liquid on their beak. When I got them, they slept for at least 3 hours between the hour long car ride and then at home in the brooder and I was very concerned.

I'm thinking she may have an umbilical hernia, coupled with the hatchery ripping off her butt down when removing poop, as I saw them do to another very sick looking pasty butt chick.

I am wondering if this is a normal runty chick. And If not, does she have a treatable condition, something that will go away on its own, or something I should cull her over?
I hate the idea of ending her short life, but I am very intent on not letting any of my animals suffer needlessly.

My chicks are currently in a large plastic storage bin bin brooder (no lid) with dry pine shavings as bedding. I am using a 100W red heat lamp, and they happily move around the brooder between warmer and cooler areas, napping frequently, as babies do.

Thank you so much in advance for your insight and support!

 

[chickens really]

Put Vaseline on her butt. Keep watching her. Possibly still absorbing her belly yolk?

 

[Kat MacK]

My rule of thumb is, if the animal isn't in pain/suffering, I wait and see. Chickens in particular are amazingly resilient. The little critter might heal on her own.
If someone trustworthy with experience recommends a splint or some such, I'd try it. I'm thinking a vet wrap adjusted just so might hold things in place for the muscles and connective tissue to firm up around it, but I don't know and would try to find someone who does.

If it doesn't improve in a couple of weeks and I had the cash, I might go see a vet specializing in birds to ask whether surgery or another intervention is necessary to make it heal up, and go from there. Sometimes these things are best dealt with when the animal is young, both in terms of avoiding complications and in terms of best results healing up. Other times they're better to do when the animal is big enough for the surgeon to see what she's doing, or the animal is old enough to recover from a difficult treatment. A vet should have some idea one way or the other.

 

[Wilkinsbird]

Put Vaseline on her butt. Keep watching her. Possibly still absorbing her belly yolk?

That’s what I hope! Thank you

 

[Wilkinsbird]

My rule of thumb is, if the animal isn't in pain/suffering, I wait and see. Chickens in particular are amazingly resilient. The little critter might heal on her own.
If someone trustworthy with experience recommends a splint or some such, I'd try it. I'm thinking a vet wrap adjusted just so might hold things in place for the muscles and connective tissue to firm up around it, but I don't know and would try to find someone who does.

If it doesn't improve in a couple of weeks and I had the cash, I might go see a vet specializing in birds to ask whether surgery or another intervention is necessary to make it heal up, and go from there. Sometimes these things are best dealt with when the animal is young, both in terms of avoiding complications and in terms of best results healing up. Other times they're better to do when the animal is big enough for the surgeon to see what she's doing, or the animal is old enough to recover from a difficult treatment. A vet should have some idea one way or the other.

I agree. She seems happy enough now, if a little stunted. If it’s a hernia, it isn’t nearly as bad as I’ve seen with other chicks that pretty much just didn’t close up before hatching. I would be interested to see if holding her squishy bits in would be a good idea. That’s definitely something I was wondering about. Hopefully someone comes through with some experience! Thank you for your reply.

 

[Wilkinsbird]

I got a notification about someone replying here and mentioning that perhaps the bulge is normal chick anatomy except it's usually covered by fluff. I'm not sure where that post is... I apologize if it's right in front of me and I just don't see it!

Anyways, they make a good point. The rear ends of more mature chickens are round and squishy under all their fluff. It would make sense that chicks would be similar.

 

[aart]

Anyways, they make a good point. The rear ends of more mature chickens are round and squishy under all their fluff. It would make sense that chicks would be similar.

I don't see that post, they may have deleted it?
Ehhh...no, this chick doesn't look normal, some trouble with the abdomen closing.
That can also indicate that there may be other development abnormalities that can't be seen.
It'll either make it, or not. Not much you can do but make sure it's got good temps in brooder and is eating and drinking. Might give it a drop of Poultry Nutridrench for a boost.

 

[Wilkinsbird]

I don't see that post, they may have deleted it?
Ehhh...no, this chick doesn't look normal, some trouble with the abdomen closing.
That can also indicate that there may be other development abnormalities that can't be seen.
It'll either make it, or not. Not much you can do but make sure it's got good temps in brooder and is eating and drinking. Might give it a drop of Poultry Nutridrench for a boost.

It ended up being a reply on Facebook - my bad.

I really appreciate the variety of perspectives everyone is bringing. I think that yes, chicks have squishy bellies, but this one seems to be more protuberant. I think I can even see a faint stretch mark looking “seam” where she closed up. I don’t think she developed as quickly as the other babies.

I will do my best to give her the best life I can. I’ve never had a sick or otherwise challenged chick. What an emotional ride.

 

[aart]

I've had a a few open abdomens that closed up with no problem.
A few others have been way too open(intestines spilling out).
The 'navel' area can get infected too even if closed.
Only time will tell.

 

[Wilkinsbird]

I've had a a few open abdomens that closed up with no problem.
A few others have been way too open(intestines spilling out).
The 'navel' area can get infected too even if closed.
Only time will tell.

That’s wild that they recovered from their intestines being outside of their body. What did you do for them?