Week Old Chick - Poop on Butt ?

I don't know if this chick has a problem but I thought I'd mention it as things can develop quickly.

This little Black Australorp chick [last born] appeared to have poop stuck to his butt.  I cleaned most of it off with a warm/wet paper towel. 
It looks like the vent maybe a little prolapsed.  I'm not sure, it might be just a little more poop.

I was surprised because I though "pasty butt" was only seen in new born chicks.

The kids swear they've not been touching the chicks when I'm not around. 
I explained that if squeezed too hard this kind of thing could happen.

I've seen the other chicks peck at this chicks' vent a few times.  But it isn't bleeding.
The chick is eating and drinking ok - but it is smaller and never quite as active as the others.

For now I'm keeping an eye on him/her.
In the morning, he it is doing worse I'm considering soaking its' butt on warm water - what do you guys think ?

Note: the other 12 chicks are doing fine - I've had them all since last weekend.

- Kevin

Thanks everyone.

These chicks weren't store bought . . . I drove about 2 hours to pick them up.

We don't hold them . . .  but they do run around the brooder when I'm changing the food & water dishes.
So there is some stress then,

I checked on the chic again this AM . . . . other than poop on its' rear it seems fine . . .  eating drinking and moving around, etc.

I'm wondering if it's just stuck on it's fuzzy rather than a plugged vent.

Kevin

ok - so here's what I'm thinking and what I've done for now:

Thinking - there might not be anything wrong with this chick since it's active [ eating / drinking / playing / etc ]
I don't want to handle it unnecessarily - as that might not be good for it either.
But I do want to know if it's pooping or not.

So I bought hardware cloth and made a little corral for it right in the brooder with his buddies.

I put a paper towel down for the floor so I can easily see if it poops.

Also gave it a little food / water.

--------------

Now for the million dollar chicken poop question . . . . how long should it take to poop at least once ?

-Kevin

Yes dear friends . . . that ends another episode of "As the Chick Poops."


Within 15 minutes the chick pooped - mystery solved !

And my mind is at rest.

And the chick is much happier now that it's out of the corral . . .  even though he could see his buddies, he cried the whole time.


Thank you for the support,

                                   Kevin & Kids