Dried Poop/Pasty Butt??

[VivereIam]

Okay so I recently got chicks, and there's a bit of sticky dried poop around the vent, but it's not blocking it at all. I've tried getting it off, but it's only caused more problems and is pretty hard to get off. Is it a problem, and do I need to try and get it all off??

 

[Judy]

I probably wouldn't worry about it, but I'd keep a close eye on her for blockage.

Here's a post about pasty butt I wrote a while back

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/747137/pasting-up-first-day/0_20#post_10529951

 

[masloozinit76]

2 of my chicks had big issues with pasty butt when I bought them (it's why I chose them oddly enough, I wanted to keep them from dying at a store that would not have taken the time to take care of the issue). I held them with their little bottom soaking in warm water until the feces freely wiped away. Then (after reading it here) I began adding apple cider vinegar to their water. One cap full per gallon of water. My girls are now 14 and 15 weeks old and I still add the vinegar to their water and I never again had pasty butt issues

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

2 of my chicks had big issues with pasty butt when I bought them (it's why I chose them oddly enough, I wanted to keep them from dying at a store that would not have taken the time to take care of the issue). I held them with their little bottom soaking in warm water until the feces freely wiped away. Then (after reading it here) I began adding apple cider vinegar to their water. One cap full per gallon of water. My girls are now 14 and 15 weeks old and I still add the vinegar to their water and I never again had pasty butt issues

I follow pretty much the same routine, checking every new chick bottom at least once a day (usually more) for the first three or four days, or until I've been 2 days with no issues. In every batch of chicks I've received, there have been about 10% who need this attention. I did have one exception in the first order I had, where I had a chick that needed attention several times a day for weeks and as she grew into an adult she still had a nasty, poopy butt and I actually had to bring her inside and bathe her in the kitchen sink on a weekly basis. I think there was something anatomically wrong with her backside. Other than her, as long as your chicks are not stressed, have adequate water, proper heat and food, the pasty butt should clear up after a few days.

As Judy said above, it is not blocking the vent, you can probably leave it alone, but keep a very close eye because having that blob of poop stuck there can cause a buildup that could lead to a blockage after a few more poops, and the little darlin's poop a LOT!

 

[BRippleChicks]

Is it safe to leave the pasty butt chick in a pen with the other healthy chicks? I have 7 chicks, 1 with pasty butt and other 6 are healthy.

 

[Wantaraisechick]

Yes you can put them together. I have always just taken a wet, warm water, towel or paper napkin and held it to the chicks butt for a min or so and then wiped them clean. Sometimes you have to pull out a couple of feathers but better than them becoming stopped up. And it hasn't ever seemed to hurt them. I don't think I have ever had a chick with pasty butt after the 2nd or 3rd week. I always start mine out on news paper for the first week or so just to make sure they aren't eating the shavings and complicating matters even more.

 

[BRippleChicks]

Thank you! That should calm her back down and make her a happy little chick

 

[LindaChek]

Question on a related topic: I have a chick who is about 4 days old, went out to check on them this morning and found her in the nest rather than out in the run with Mama, unable to walk and eyes half closed. Ran her into the house and discovered pasty butt, got her cleaned off with warm water and under a heat lamp in a box. She still appears very weak and I am worried that if I return her to the nest, she will not have ready access to food and water, which is right outside in the run, because she is not mobile. On the other hand, will Mama still take her back if I keep her in the house for a day or two to recover (which I really hope she does)? Any advice is appreciated. Also, how far above her should the 60-watt heat lamp be to keep her warm enough? Thanks!