Brinsea EcoGlow 20 and pasty butt

[Urchickchic]

i have seven barre rock X chicks. I incubated and hatched them at home from our flock. This is my second go-round with babies, the first being feed store chicks in early Spring. Three of the feed store chicks (all the Barre rocks) got pasty butt.

So..hatching my own...After having to micromanage a traditional brooder lamp to keep the brooder the correct temp for their age, I decided to get a Brinsea radiant heat plate. Figured they were cold, go under, they’re warm, come out. Food and water about a foot away from the ecoglow. Have checked temp and it is 95F.
Yesterday I had six out of seven chicks with droppings drying in their butts. No clogged vents yet, and I cleaned them all off, but kinda frustrated as to why since they’ve got a good heat source, no stress (moved from one room to the other after hatching in the bator). They have natural light with artificial onlyndirong day and at dark the lights go out. I just started adding probiotics and Bragg’s ACV with the mother in it to their water to help them along. On nonmedicated chick starter crumbles. Anything else I can be doing to help? JUST SAY NO TO PASTY BUTT!

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Maybe try some eletrolites in there water you can buy it online or at a tractor supplies

 

[Urchickchic]

Thanks— I’m trying nutridrench now.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I don't know if there's any concerns with giving them a combination of probiotics and ACV, plus electrolytes if you decide to do that, and now also Nutri-Drench.

Can the acidity of the ACV conflict with other treatments? This is something I've been intending to research.

I would eliminate the ACV and give them probiotics, and the Nutri-Drench isn't a bad idea, but even though it's super dense in nutrients, I'd be careful not to give them too much.

The Chicken Chick has a great article on treating pasty butt.

One additional note: The Brinsea warmer shouldn't give them enough room to stand up. Crouched and sitting ensures the heat is reaching them. As they age they don't need as much heat, but during the first week in particular keep the warmer at the lowest height, and on into the second week.

I mention this because they could be colder than you realize, and being cold can cause them stress and make them more vulnerable.

 

[3riverschick]

Giving them the probiotics is a good idea but you don't need the apple cider vinegar if you're giving them Nutri drench .
Nutri drench has molasses in it and molasses is a laxative for chickens so Nutridrench will help fight the Pasty butt and prevent it . the probiotic is a great idea because the sooner you can get the proper ratios of correct Flora in that GI tract the faster your chicks are going to flourish. that's very important . at this stage it's all about the GI tract. so you want to go ahead and give them the Nutri drench which has all kinds of healthy nutrients which will help the growth and development of the GI tract . you want to give them the probiotics to go ahead and populate that GI tract with the with excellent Flora . the more proper the flora ratio, the less welcoming the GI tract is to harmful pathogens. if you can find a yogurt that has the strain "bacillus sibtilis" in it , that's an excellent strain. it stands up well to the GI tract environment and lasts a long time.
Best,
Karen

 

[Urchickchic]

I will just do probiotics and nutridrench. The Ecoglow is at its lowest setting and they need to squeeze to get under it. They spend most of daylight out and about and yes, on top, last night all seven were huddled on top. I was curious about when to raise it so I will wait until next week. Thanks!

 

[Urchickchic]

They have been on nutridrench and probiotics now for 24 hrs and no sticky butts so far after the first clean...

 

[Sunshine Flock]

They have been on nutridrench and probiotics now for 24 hrs and no sticky butts so far after the first clean...

The product photos for the Brinsea warmer are misleading. I was quite upset about this and let them know. Great, wonderful, fantastic warmer, but when it comes to the care of animals, the photos should accurately portray how the product is to be used. I'm glad you knew to lower it all the way down. When they outgrow the warmer, turn it on its side and you can continue to offer them warmth. That's how I've been using it for my seven month old rooster. So it's not a one-off product and worth the investment.

Keep us posted on how your dear girls are doing!

 

[3riverschick]

Great news chickchic !
Karen

 

[Urchickchic]

So far, looks like only one has had any loose stools going forward. Probiotics and nutridrench has done the trick. They’re out of the box and into a larger brooder now too, as they’re growing like weeds! I took this shot of them from the nanny cam overnight of them “sleeping” underneath the ecoglow.