2 new owner questions

[bethgsd]

I've looked and probably missed the answers but 2 of my chicks have dirty bottoms. I cleaned them last night with a damp paper towel but it didn't make a difference. They seem fine except that. They are eating, drinking, moving around and growing. Is there is anything I need to be doing?
Also, how do I know how old my chicks are? There was no age listed on the signs at Southern States and I didn't think to ask. 3 of them are starting to get little wing feathers.
Thanks!

Beth

 

[rosemarythyme]

They sound fairly young, maybe a week or two. Generally chicks are delivered to the store at 2 or 3 days old, so if you got these shortly after they were shipped, that'll give you an indication of age.

Are the bottoms just dirty or is the poop clogged around the vent? If the latter that's pasty butt and you'll need to keep it cleared up or the chicks can potentially die from it.

 

[bethgsd]

They sound fairly young, maybe a week or two. Generally chicks are delivered to the store at 2 or 3 days old, so if you got these shortly after they were shipped, that'll give you an indication of age.

Are the bottoms just dirty or is the poop clogged around the vent? If the latter that's pasty butt and you'll need to keep it cleared up or the chicks can potentially die from it.

I was worried about the poop clogging the vent but it isn't. It seems to be some dried on poop near the vent. I haven't seen any diarrhea in the crate. One of the dirty bottoms has figured out how to squeeze out of the crate but is almost too large to squeeze back in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As long as it's not blocking the vent I wouldn't worry too much about it (chicks can get poop on themselves just rolling around in their brooding area).

 

[bethgsd]

Thanks rosemarythyme. I was quite worried.