3 day old with dirty hard vent

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desertlovers

desertlovers

In the Brooder
11 Years
May 18, 2008
45
0
32
When I came home from work a little while ago, I noticed that one of my chicks (hatched on saturday) has hard poop on his/her vent. I got a warm papertowel and was able to soften/remove some. I can't tell if there is more or if he/she is swollen/inpacted. Can anyone give any advice? The baby doesn't seem to be suffering it just looks painful.
 
I can't tell from your post if you are familiar, so i apologize if I'm telling you something you already know...

it's affectionately known as "pasty butt" around here, and it can kill a chick quickly if not cleared. You did the right thing by using warm water and removing it--a qtip works well too. If it's not bleeding or looking injured, vaseline will be all it needs. I put vaseline on all of my day olds when they arrived, and again two days later, and have had no problems. A little vaseline prevention might help your others just in case.

Search "pasty butt" and you can find out all you need to know. But for starters, it can be caused by stress and by the brooder being too hot.

Good luck, and I hope you have resolved the problem once and for all!
 
Thank you!!!! I was so afraid it was too late at night for anyone to answer! I will be reading up on it now and helping the poor little guy/gal. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
 
Be sure you get it all off; you said you removed some. Soak it in warm water, hold it under running warm water, dab at it with a washcoth or Qtip, whatever. Just gently get it off. Then, other poster is correct, Vaseline to the butt is best. If none in the house, then any vegetable oil is fine, or Neosporin or other ointment, mineral oil, Crisco -- anything greasy.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you too!!! I have 2 chicks with "pasty butts"... I have no vaseline and didn't know what else to put on them. I do have oil and A&D ointment. I would have hated to lose them to something that seems so easy to fix.... I just love this site... you all are so wonderful!
 
We love feeling like we helped, too.

I had not thought of A&D; might be even better than Vaseline. Vaseline (petroleum jelly, of course) is its base, but those tiny butts could no doubt use the healing properties of the vitamins, after we so rudely scrape them clean!
 
Quote:
What is A&D ointment?

Hiney paste for (human) babies w diaper rash, with vitamins A and D in it.
big_smile.png
 

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