Chicks at TSC have poopie butts, how can I help...?

[Granolamom]

On my way home from work I stopped at TSC to pick up feed, and couldn't help but go by the bin with the "Easter chicklets" (I REALLY try to stay away from it, usually...).
Oh my, they're about 3 weeks old now, and almost all of them (RIR's, I think), have they're liitle butts caked up with dried up, dark-brown muck. They still eat, drink, and run around, but I know they'll at some point get sick and die.
The manager, who always talks to me when I come in, came over, and I pointed out that the chicks seemed to have some issues. He agreed with me, and said he had no idea what to do about it, even though he'd like to help them.
What should I do? I'm going back today, to pick up some stuff I forgot, due to getting sidetracked (happens often, lately...

)

 

[farmgirlie1031]

Tell him how to clean off their bottoms. If they stay caked like that they will get where they can't go potty at all and die.

 

[whitecra]

I saw some like that at Atwoods yesterday..
Chris

 

[baldie]

Being me, I would have asked for the bathroom, wet a paper towel and started cleaning their poopy butts.

 

[Granolamom]

Quote:
A wet paper towel isn't going to do the trick, at this point. They really need to be soaked in warm water and soap, to be honest. Should I offer to do it at the store? What causes them to get like that? They're on wood shavings, under a heat lamp, with plenty of food and water. Would the wood shavings in the watering dishes cause them to get diarrhea? I just want to make sure I don't bring something home to my own flock...