chick's have poop sticking to butt

[emilybrewster]

Sorry if post title is a bit crude. We just purchased our second batch of chicks. This group seems to be different from our first in that they have poop sticking and then drying to their butt. I tried to gently remove it but it is solidly stuck on them. I am concerned that they will build up waste inside if they can't release what is stuck.

 

[Darceyhs]

One of our chickens has that too, it hasn't seemed to affect her health but she is a bit raggedy

 

[sourland]

Do a forum search on 'pasty butt'. Several threads will come concerning causes and treatments. Good luck at resolving this problem.

 

[Cacique500]

Gently hold the chick with it's head in your hand (butt facing out). Place the back end of the chick under warm water and very gently clean with a cotton ball. (It may take several wet cotton balls to get the poop off) They'll squirm a bit but will settle down quickly. The dried poop will eventually work it's way loose. Don't pull or force anything, just gently wipe and eventually it'll break free. We had this for a few days and after we started giving them some plain greek yogurt, and apple cider vinegar (ACV) in their water, it went away.

Leaving the poop on there can cause a blockage which will kill the chick.

 

[Animals970]

Yes I agree with Cacique500. Gently (yet firmly) hold the chick, then take a cottonball or soft washcloth and wet it lightly with warm water. Gently rub the chicks butt with it back and forth slowly. Eventually, the poop should come off. They will peep quite a bit, but don't think it hurts them. They are just not used to people rubbing their butts

If you want more info, look up "Pasty Butt"

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I don't even rub, I just hold their butt under warm running water until the poo works its way off. Easy peasy, and no feathers get pulled

 

[CutlassL29]

We had that problem a little bit when we got our chicks last week. We put a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in the water with electrolite and probiotic and haven't had that problem since then.
There's a video on Youtube that shows how they take care of the dried mess using cotton balls with warm water and gently wiping/ softening the poo till it's gone

 

[emilybrewster]

Thanks everyone. We cleaned them off and fed apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon per gallon plus a dab of vegetable oil on the vent. All better now.

 

[grampsjim]

Thank you for asking this question. We just got our chicks yesterday. They were 48 hours old. I just cleaned one little pasty butt and used
veggie oil on her little vent. I'll get some ACV in their water and some Greek yogurt when I go to town. So far so good, but that was just about
20 min. ago.
I have them on medicated chick crumbles and the sales person who seemed to know a lot about raising chicks, said to take them off of it
if they developed diarrhea. So I will observe a day or two longer and see what happens.
Thanks again!

 

[subhanalah]

I've been told not to give ACV to very young chicks. You can buy save-a-chick probiotic to help get their digestive systems in order.