Do you seperate your pasty butt chicks?

[Cherstin]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this, so please bear with me. From what I can find on research, pasty butt can be attributed to stress (shipped birds), not enough "good" protein in the diet, or too-high a temperature in the brooder. I've read to treat by cleaning the area gently, then adding either fresh yogurt to their diet or apple cider vinegar to their water.

My question is: Do you separate the pasty-butts from the non pasty-butts? I'm not sure if I should be treating this like an illness (contagious) or not.

Thank you!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't separate. Usually not an illness, just a case of diarrhea.

I use a soft cloth with vinegar, it helps soften it and disinfects.

 

[al6517]

No need to seperate just clean it's bottom. Now here is a problem.............. the whole feeding Yogurt and ACV. A very young chick needs to get it's system started and regulated first, giving this uneeded supplement is not advisable. Just hold the chick and use your finger to drop water it until it can't drink any more then try again in a hour or so. a little electrolite in the water will help. Pasty butt comes from it not getting enough water.

 

[Cherstin]

Thank you! I'd considered the yogurt as I figured they'd dig it, but I really didn't want to clean the yogurt off of 29 chicks. I figured it would be more mess than anything else. The apple cider vinegar, I'd read people then complain that they couldn't get the chicks to drink the water due to its bitter taste. (Sounds like it might defeat the purpose.)

I'm definitely down with the "Keep It Simple" method. I'll clean and beak-dip again. I appreciate the advice, everyone!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Pasty butt is often a sign of stress and over heating, under hydrated. It normally passes in a few days.

Hold the chick's butt under tepid running water. After a while, as it softens, crumble the mess off, gently!! Do not pull or you'll often take feathers with it. Lube the area with Olive oil or vasoline to keep the next poop from sticking.