chick bums

[Hollen chicks]

I have 4 very small adorable little chicks. I think they are all silkies (they all have 5 toe's on each foot) not sure how else to tell. Any way, I got them Saturday. Not sure how old they are but they are all alive and well and seem very happy to be a part of our family. One of my chicks, snookie (the smallest) alway has a plugged bum. I have to hold her (hope its a her) every day for at least 20 min washing her pooppy bum. Is there a better way to do what I have hen doing and how long will this last? The others, Oona, Elsa, and Olive all have clean bums.

 

[foreverlearning]

Add some honey to the water and run a hot/cool brooder. Too much heat can cause pasty butt, if you only have heat on one side then they can get to coller areas when needed thus reducing the pasty butt.

 

[Hollen chicks]

I'm new to this and this is gonna sound dumb because everyone on here talks about it. What is a brooder?.. I have them in a large wood box (about the size of a freezer chest) I blocked half of it off so they could stay warm but I just moved the wall back so they could have a lil more room cause the water was to warm when I cleaned there home today.

 

[Hollen chicks]

Add honey to the drinking water or the water I clean the chick with?... And thank you

 

[3for3]

I understand that Apple Cider Vinegar is good for them as well (electrolytes!). 1TBS per gallon in drinking water.

The brooder is the name for their home while they are growing

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

A brooder is any container you are keeping the babies. You will want to use a heat lamp on them to keep them warm. Start the heat out at 95 degrees. The heat source off to one side of the brooder and the food and water off on the other so they not only have to leave the heat to get to the goods, but there will be cool spots in the brooder should they need it. Keep the thermometer on the floor directly under the heat lamp. Lower this heat by 5 degrees each week for 6 weeks.

For pasty butt, I like to add Apple Cider Vinegar to the water. Sugary products can cause diarrhea. You would add 3/4 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to one quart of water. Plastic waterer only. Change and make new daily. This will help with balancing the digestion. Keep soaking the butts and the vinegar will kick in tomorrow sometime.

Here is a great article on raising your new babies....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ks-the-first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens

Good luck with your babies and if you have any questions, that is what we are here for!

 

[foreverlearning]

The answers above are great. There are no dumb questions here. It is better to ask and know then to have to deal with something that you have no clue with later. We have a lot of members on here that have seen and heard just about all of it and give great advise.

 

[gander007]

 

[Hollen chicks]

My goodness, chicken people are so nice! What a fun page

 

[TwoCrows]

BYC is a very fun place to be! Lots of knowledgeable members, like minded chicken lovers and just a great community!