1 week old chick with no feathers around vent and poop sticking to her

[jelly_biscuit]

I have eight new chicks that are about one week old. Two of them are barred rock chicks. One of the barred rocks has no feathers right around her vent. The other barred rock's vent (as well as the vents of the six other chicks) is almost invisible because of her feathers, so I know it's not a barred rock thing. When I first noticed it about five days ago I thought she had pasty butt because I could see poop on and around her vent. So I pulled her out to clean her bottom with a wet cloth. I cleaned a little poop off, but discovered that it wasn't actually keeping her from pooping. Then I realized that she didn't have nearly as many feathers around her vent as the other chicks so I thought, "well, I'm just seeing the poop because she doesn't have as many feathers. If I could see the other birds butts they'd probably have a little poop on them, too." It's getting more and more covered in poop, though, but each time I take her out to clean her up she just has a dirty butt, but doesn't appear to be having any problems eliminating. I have personally witnessed her successfully making a doodle as well. Does this sound or look like a problem (ignore "look like a problem" in my question. I just discovered that you can't look because I'm a brand new member and am not allowed to post pictures - great. So now everyone gets to try and imagine what I'm talking about instead of looking at exactly what I'm talking about in a picture. I hope my chick doesn't die while I wait to become a not "new" member and can post images)? Is she just destined to have a bald, dirty hiney? I've been reading about and planning to have chickens for about 20 years (since I was a kid) and this is the first time I've had any of my own. I want to do everything exactly right. Any suggestions would be super-appreciated. Thanks!

 

[purpletree23]

Sorry your first post has to do with a problem but I don't think it's too serious. She is pooping and eating so there isn't trouble there. Just the sticking of the poop on her butt right? Next time you clean her off spread a little vaseline around her vent. The poop shouldn't stick anymore or if it does it will come right off and add more vaseline.

One thing I like to suggest to anyone with new chicks is to make sure you sprinkle a little bit of chick grit on their food. The grit is red so don't sprinkle too much because that's all they will eat. Chickens are very attracted to red. Also....very important.....give them a clump of grass with an inch of dirt still attached to the roots. Any grass will do as long as it has never had fertilizer or weed killer on it. Cut a 4 to 6 inch circle with a trowel, lift it up and shake some of the dirt off. Put this in the chick brooder. They will peck at it, eat bits of dirt and play king of the mountain on it. The grains of sand they eat keeps them from getting pasty butt.

20 years is a long time to wait but your flock will be well worth it. Things will go wrong every now and then and you will have questions but the people on here are SUPER! They're patient, very knowledgeable and if you have a problem with something someone on here has had the same thing and can tell you how to fix it. There's a lot to be said for reading every chicken book you can get your hands on but nothing beats experience.

If it can't be fixed we are honest about that too.

 

[jelly_biscuit]

Thanks so much! I'll give your suggestions a try. I'm hopeful that she'll be okay because she behaves as alert and active as the others. If there is anything the matter with her, she apparently doesn't know it. Thanks again.

 

[Chick Charm]

No biggie. Probably has no fluff around her butt due to her or others "pecking" at it also. One of my BR chicks this here went through the same thing. Not to worry. Keep an eye on em. I know its hard to do isn't it?

 

[jenesis536]

If there is enough to cover it that you can't see the vent, soak them in warm water and so it softens up... never pull it out, but as it loosens just gently get the poop off. Then make sure they are dried before putting them back. My first batch had that issue and after I cleaned them up I checked them daily for a couple of weeks. Now I've realized it's not so much of a problem after a week... I just check them to make sure the vent is clear. I haven't had to go to extreme measures yet, so I hope everything works smoothly for you.

 

[jelly_biscuit]

I gave 'em some chick grit and some sod (which they went bananas for - it literally disappeared - I'll put some more in there just because they seem to enjoy it so much). She still behaves just as chipper as the rest of them, so I'm not overly concerned. It doesn't actually look like she's clogged up. It looks like the poop is sticking to her right under her vent. I think I'll just leave her butt alone unless it starts to look that the vent is actually obstructed. It looks a little gross (I mean it is poop after all), but I think it may be harmless. I guess, every now and then, even some of us humans looks a little silly compared the other humans, too, right? Like if I were to come out of the bathroom with toilet paper stuck to my shoe. Embarassing, but not life threatening.

 

[jelly_biscuit]

I think I've finally posted enough that I'm allowed to upload pictures. Here is my girl's butt from a couple of days ago. She still looks about the same (maybe slightly more poop covered, but vent still not obstructed). As you can see, the poop is not dried on her vent. She can still eliminate. It's just not dropping cleanly to the ground like the rest of the chicks. Anyone know if there's something different that I need to be doing, or is she just destined to be poopy pants mcgee? Thanks.