Chicks vent pecking aftermath questions (first time mom)

[jmb52]

I got my first ever day old chicks last Thursday (5 of them, various breeds). I tried to do everything right but fear I did everything wrong and now am just a bundle of worry over these little ones. On day 3 at our house, one of them began attacking the vents of the others. She had gotten 3 of them to the point of some bloodiness before I figured out who it was. From what I've read it was likely due to stress, possibly because I had it too light in the room where the brooder is, and maybe we held them too much the first day (kids were so eager, we held them 3-4 times first day). I tried a homemade option I found online to cover the red (honey, lemon essential oil, and blue food coloring) and it made everything a hot sticky mess back there. It has been hard to tell if they're developing pasty butt or if poo is just sticking to honey-matted blue fluff that was still there. One of them finally seems to be looking better, but one still looks awful. I try to clean her but it doesn't seem to look better. I can't tell if her vent is prolapsed or if it's just a little irritated, still with blue residue, and not surrounded by the usual fluff (picture below). I had switched to Pick-No-More instead of the honey but am worried that it was bad to put that on/around the vent. I am just so so worried-- Will their vents be too damaged for healthy egg laying? Can we not eat their eggs later because Vent-No-More was on the vent? If I'm getting them out to clean them up is it continuing the stress? If I don't clean them up will they get pasty butt or get pecked? When can we start to hold them and interact with them since I'm afraid everything will introduce stress? They're all back together and the bully seems to be better now, but I'm constantly worried it will start again. PLEASE HELP ME I'm so sick to my stomach over all of this and am fighting fears that this was all a big mistake because I'll never be able to relax again over these little girls. Thank you to anyone who can help!

 

[Hannahnic14]

Hi! So we had to use no peck on some of our chick's vents and there were no ill effects. The smell and taste will keep the others from picking at it. I would just make sure you keep the little vent area clean. maybe wipe down with warm water and reapply no peck morning and night for a few days until it starts to heal and there is no bloody/scabby spots then just in the morning for a few days. I wouldn't handle them anymore than that for maybe a week just to keep the stress down. As far as egg laying, since they are so young it won't have any effect on the eggs. It wouldn't hurt to separate the worst ones from the rest if you can. Hope this helps!! Just speaking from my recent experience!

 

[Jeanw]

Hi there, try not to worry too much...I know it an be overwhelming not knowing if I’m doing everything I can for the chickens.

here is an article about vent pecking. http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/vent-pecking

how big is your brooder? Can you post a picture of your setup?

fyi the pasty butts have to be cleaned, the chicks can die if they aren’t able to poop. Warm water, gently remove poop, gently towel dry or low heat hair dryer works, don’t leave them too wet they will chill (not good).

 

[Jeanw]

Thread 'Brooder setup!'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/brooder-setup.1457292/

 

[jmb52]

Hi! So we had to use no peck on some of our chick's vents and there were no ill effects. The smell and taste will keep the others from picking at it. I would just make sure you keep the little vent area clean. maybe wipe down with warm water and reapply no peck morning and night for a few days until it starts to heal and there is no bloody/scabby spots then just in the morning for a few days. I wouldn't handle them anymore than that for maybe a week just to keep the stress down. As far as egg laying, since they are so young it won't have any effect on the eggs. It wouldn't hurt to separate the worst ones from the rest if you can. Hope this helps!! Just speaking from my recent experience!

Thank you for your reply and some reassurance.

 

[Hannahnic14]

Thank you for your reply and some reassurance.

You're welcome! We had 2 that were very very badly wounded and they have recovered fully so I'm sure your little ones will recover as well.

 

[jmb52]

Hi there, try not to worry too much...I know it an be overwhelming not knowing if I’m doing everything I can for the chickens.

here is an article about vent pecking. http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/vent-pecking

how big is your brooder? Can you post a picture of your setup?

fyi the pasty butts have to be cleaned, the chicks can die if they aren’t able to poop. Warm water, gently remove poop, gently towel dry or low heat hair dryer works, don’t leave them too wet they will chill (not good).

This is our current set up. I know they will need to move to a bigger one as they grow. I’m trying to keep it darker in there. Have added a little roost, some grass, and a mirror. I laid down fresh paper towel and cleaned up the shavings a little this morning and it already looks terrible again. I keep noticing poo stuck to their feet. I don’t know how people talk about going a couple days between cleanings, mine is like instantly dirty again! At first I was using a Brinsea Ecoglow 600, but at night I was worried they wouldn’t be able to see their food and water to access it so I left the room light on. Which from what I understand now was possibly the cause of the stress.

 

[jmb52]

You're welcome! We had 2 that were very very badly wounded and they have recovered fully so I'm sure your little ones will recover as well.

I'm glad yours recovered fully! That gives me hope. It was so hard to know what to do at first, I went out and bought a second set of everything to set up another brooder and separated the hurt one but she seemed so distressed alone so I put the smallest one in with her. I figured out the culprit after two in the group of three were also bloodied and then kept that one separated by a clear plastic divider with her own food and water. At one point I was afraid I was going to need like 4 separate brooders going. They're all back together now but every little peck at feathers from any of them makes me nervous. I'm just constantly questioning myself and afraid I'm going to walk in to a dead and bloody baby which I think would scar me to the whole experience.

 

[Hannahnic14]

I'm glad yours recovered fully! That gives me hope. It was so hard to know what to do at first, I went out and bought a second set of everything to set up another brooder and separated the hurt one but she seemed so distressed alone so I put the smallest one in with her. I figured out the culprit after two in the group of three were also bloodied and then kept that one separated by a clear plastic divider with her own food and water. At one point I was afraid I was going to need like 4 separate brooders going. They're all back together now but every little peck at feathers from any of them makes me nervous. I'm just constantly questioning myself and afraid I'm going to walk in to a dead and bloody baby which I think would scar me to the whole experience.

It sounds like your on the right track! Keep your hopes up! Your doing all you can Unfortunately these things do happen sometimes, nature just seems to have its own way sometimes. Keep us updated!

 

[Jeanw]

They are very messy, nothing you can do but clean up brooder daily. At this age you may be able today paper towels over the shavings, that makes cleanup a little easier

also provide chick grit for them if you are offering grass. They need the grit to break down that sort of item.

as far as light, they only need during the day. they will not wake up during the night unless there is a light on. No need to worry about them seeing the food and water at night. If you are using a red heat lamp it won’t keep them awake.