2 weeks old and still dealing with pasty butts!

[kyeschicks]

My chicks will be 2 weeks old tomorrow, but what has me concerned is that about 5 are still getting pasty butts. I've tried many things already like putting vaseline, cleaning their butts daily, adding olive oil, etc... and nothing seems to work

I'm now getting worried since I've never had this problem and I don't know how to get rid of it. Any suggestions???

Thanks for your help

 

[kyeschicks]

 

[fiberart57]

Pasty butt is a digestive disorder so you have to work from the mouth on down. The vaseline is to keep their little butts from getting too raw and cleaning daily is what you have to do. Are you feeding them olive oil or putting it on their bottoms? If feeding it to them; I'd stop.

Make sure that they are warm enough and that all other chick-care components are there; bedding, room to roam, fresh water, minimal handling, etc. Pasty butt is often a side-effect of stressed chicks.

Check bedding; when mine were babies, I had one that ate the shavings. His little crop felt like popcorn. They're not too bright and confuse the small sawdust type shavings with food. Change to bigger chips or straw. You may have to clean the straw a bit more often.

Do you put electrolytes in the water? It's a good idea but make sure that you read the instructions on the back. The packages come with enough electrolytes for a horse trough and you have to really dilute it.

At two weeks you might try a tiny amount of plain, fat-free, watered down yogurt to help with the digestive tract. Make sure that you get the kind with the probiotics and acidopholous and no sugar.

My babies were done with pasty butt after about a week from taking them home from the feed store. You're right in thinking that they should be over it by now.

Good luck, Mary

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Have you given them any sand or grit yet? Might offer them a dish full so they can bathe, scratch, peck and eat what they need.

 

[kyeschicks]

Thanks for helping me out

They live inside (in my room) and they don't have pine shavings or wood chips just paper towels. They always have fresh warm water and chick starter. I don't really handle/carry them just when I have to clean the brooding area (which is every 2 days). And I don't give them the vasseline/olive oil to eat

I put it around their vent. I haven't provided grit yet since they live inside and they make enough mess already with the chick starter so I'll just wait till they go outside and let them play in the sand. They will go outside next wednesday when they turn 3 weeks

 

[Ryu]

We put the organic Apple Cider Vinegar in the water about a tablespoon per gallon (or a capful per pint or so--I'm really accurate

). The vinegar needs to have the 'mother' in it to work properly--I'm not usually a huge proponent for the whole organic thing, but in this case it does make a difference.

That usually straightens them up.

 

[Wheels]

I am still learning. What do pasty butt look like?