stunted, constipated chick

[Triplecross]

I ordered a trio of Buff Brahams from Meyer Hatchery 3 weeks ago. After a week I thought the chicks were extremely loud and just recently realized it's actually one of the chicks because she's constipated.

I have given her olive oil enemas, applesauce to eat, and fiber pills and honey dissolved in their water. Nothing has helped. She still chirps/ screams every 15 minutes when she has to poop. The consistancy is soft like a paste where as the other chicks are more runny.

She is smaller than the other 2 chicks and her wings hang funny like a duckwing look.

What can I do to help her? She seems in pain and it's so hard to hear over and over in the house all day which makes the kids and I very sad!

I don't think Meyer Hatchery will refund her since it's been over 48 hour upon delivery.


Please help me!

 

[Fillyelf]

I don't have advice but I think you should call the hatchery.

 

[Smoochie]

I would give her mashed scrambled eggs or a bit of hard boiled egg yolk. Chicks go crazy for cooked eggs and the extra protein is a bonus. Some chicks eat only the tiny pieces of chick commercial crumble and leave the large pieces. The food dish may be full but some won't eat the large pieces.

 

[Smoochie]

Also, sometimes there is nothing we can do. Chickens are not hardy and casualties happen often.

 

[Triplecross]

Smoochie, thanks for your reply. I don't understand how the protein in the cooked eggs will help her with her constipation? I believe she would need fiber or a laxative of come nature.

She is getting enough chick feed, I guess the problem is her butt is too small or she's not drinking enough?

 

[Smoochie]

Eggs are packed full of vitamins and brain food. Also a bit of water added to the scramble will add moisture. I know it is not a laxative however a bit of a boost can sometimes help.

 

[debid]

I'd quit giving her human treatments for constipation. Fresh, clean water available at all times and with no additives (which can alter the flavor and make it unappealing) plus chick feed is all I'd give. You can moisten a bit of the crumble with water to make a thick porridge and many chickens will dive right into that. That will improve fluid intake. But, when you load her gut with insoluble fiber (which is what is in fiber supplements), you're depriving her of nutrients during a time of high need. Those supplements absorb a huge amount of water, also, and expand in the process. I don't see how that could help anything but I can imagine how it could cause the chick pain.

 

[veggiecanner]

I had one like that, I ended up giving her boiled egg mixed with fish canned in oil, and probiotics. These were mixed with a little chick feed. I let her clean up what she could in a few minutes. then took it away.
She responded by acting like her blood sugar was more level. And started eating the chick feed on her own between the fish/egg feedings.
but it took about 4 days for her to come out of it completly..
The other chicks liked the egg/fish mix so I let them have the extra that I made when I fed the sick one.

I agree if they don't eat much make sure what the do eat is very nutricius.

 

[Triplecross]

Smoochie- that's not a bad idea, I'll try anything at this point. Thanks for your tip.

Debid- I got the "human treatments" from BYC forum. I didn't know what else to do and nothing didn't seem like a good idea. But you're say you'd do nothing other than food and water which is what she already has of course.

 

[debid]

I didn't say do nothing, I said that human treatments for "constipation" aren't going to help and might harm the chick.

The thing is that pasty chick droppings aren't from a lack of fiber in a chick feed diet. Thick droppings are from dehydration. So, you go after the problem rather than the symptom. Possibilities include unpalatable water (are you adding meds/vitamins?), overheated brooder (look for panting, holding wings out, that sort of thing), being bullied away from food/water by a dominant chick...