Welcome to Chick Quicks, a series that chronicles the lessons I've learned as a chicken keeper — all in 5 minutes or less! Topics are mostly geared towards novices and smaller flocks, with links included for additional reading.
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2025 was a crash course in pasty butt mitigation. Of the 11 chicks I ordered, I'd say about half needed some sort of assistance "back there", with a few being repeat offenders. But thanks to all those cleanings, I was able to develop a technique that I consider safe, lower stress, and reasonably efficient. So, grab a cotton ball and a bowl of warm water.
It's time to wash some butts.
What exactly IS pasty butt?
Any fecal matter that sticks to the backside of your chicks (specifically around the vent) is considered a form of pasty butt in my book. In fact, you shouldn't wait until it's this huge, grotesque blob before you act. Pasty butt can quickly become fatal if the vent is blocked, so check your chicks twice daily for their first 7-10 days of life. The earlier you clean, the easier it will be for everyone involved.
What causes it in the first place?
In a word, diarrhea (or loose stools).
One common culprit is an overheated brooder. It's a misconception that baby chicks need to be kept at a constant 90-95° Fahrenheit, like they're a rack of cheap hot dogs at the gas station. Chicks raised with a brood hen are constantly being booted from their heat source as mom goes about her day, but return to her for warm up sessions once they become chilled. I love to mimic this natural behavior using a heat plate. Whatever heat source you choose, make sure your brooder has an area for the chicks to completely cool down, typically with their food and water.
A second cause, and the source of my problem, is shipping stress. Being shoved in a box and flown across the globe would make anyone anxious, nevermind a day-old chick. Mail delays and temperature fluctuations can all add to the ordeal.
Finally, there could just be an issue with your chick's digestive plumbing. Keep them tidied up the best you can, and hopefully they will grow out of it.
Can you show me what it looks like?
Unfortunately, I don't have photos from my time in pasty butt purgatory, but I'll provide links at the end of the article with specific examples. For now, here's an overview of where things are generally located.
I really need a better chick butt photo. If you have one, drop me a line!
Pasty butt will collect around the vent area, located directly beneath their tail. A healthy vent should be squeaky clean.
Something to note is the umbilical scab. It's not typically visible unless you part the down, but it does resemble dried poop. DO NOT MESS WITH THIS! Once it heals underneath, the scab will fall off on its own. Removing it prematurely could be fatal.
Understood! Now what if there's just a few specks, like in the picture? Do I need to clean that?
It depends. If the chick looks uncomfortable, such as constantly trying to groom their behind, then yes. If other chicks begin pecking at the specks, then also yes. It's not worth risking an injury.
Alright, I'm ready to clean a butt. Where do I start?
1) Prepare your workstation. It's better to have everything at the ready, rather than fumbling with a chick in hand. You'll need:
- a table or countertop with an electrical outlet nearby
- a towel to set the chick on
- cotton balls
- toilet paper squares or tissues
- a bowl of "sink hot" water (not boiling)
- a blowdryer
2) Next, we're going to collect our patient from the brooder and place her on the towel. This is where I'll switch my hold to "reverse claw grip", allowing me access to her behind without holding too tightly. Remember, chicks can be easily suffocated!
3) Dip one side of a cotton ball in the hot water. Test it on your skin first to make sure it doesn't burn, then hold against the chick's vent to start softening any dried poop. I'll do this for about 30 seconds at a time, replacing the cotton ball with a fresh one in between. The goal is to keep things warm back there, both for the chick's comfort, and for efficiency.
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Reverse Claw Grip | Finger Placement | Cotton Ball Soak |
Some poop came off, but a few pieces are being stubborn.
4) This part's more delicate. We don't want to risk pulling the skin, because it can tear. Instead, I'll take a bit of toilet paper (or tissue) and carefully crush the remnants between my fingers. The friction is usually enough to work out any last dingleberries.
The butt is finally clean! Should I put her back in the brooder?
5) Not yet! Even though we minimized how damp the chick got with our cotton ball method, she still needs to be dried for her own protection (both from chill and her curious brooder-mates). I like to start by using a dry cotton ball to fluff the area and soak up excess water, but we'll be finishing with a blowdryer.
Your #1 goal is to not burn your chick. A second person really comes in handy, but the method is the same, regardless. Use a lower heat setting on the dryer (if you have one), hold it at arm's length, and keep that thing moving! Don't just sit there like a statue. Wiggling your wrist not only gets things dried faster, but it prevents heat from building up in any one spot. Click the spoiler tags below to see what I mean.
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This shouldn't take more than a minute or two. Then, she can rejoin her friends in the brooder.
Why don't you use oil to break down pasty butt?
If I were really struggling with just hot water and cotton balls, I would probably use a drop of oil to help speed things along. Ordinarily, I don't like the idea of leaving any residue on the down (due to those curious brooder-mates that can't help pecking anything out of place), but pasty butt can be a matter of life and death. Do what you need to do to get the job done safely.
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Can I see those example photos?
- This chick has scabs on both her vent and umbilical area, showing the relative placement.
- Here's an example of pasty butt (and what I normally deal with).
- Here's a second example.
- Finally, here's a more severe case.
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Thanks for reading! If you have questions or comments, leave them below. I'm always happy to chat. Up next is our first Hot Wings edition of Chick Quicks, so stay tuned.
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