Pasty butt is caused by the stool being to soft and runny and sticking to the vent feathers, why would a laxative help?
Chilling and overheating are common causes of bowel trouble in young poults/chicks. Diarrhea may appear, followed by pasting of the vent. To prevent further trouble a gentle laxative is needed, such as molasses in the drinking water. Give this for several days.
Pam from Heritage Turkeys told me that she always starts her turks on water with a little molasses in it so I just did the same thing.
Smart lady she gave you great advice.
Compared to chicks, poults are more difficult to brood. They do not learn to eat so readily; they are more subject to fright, crowding, and piling; they do not take kindly to changes in feed or equipment; and they are more easily chilled.
During the Brooding Period If turkey poults do not grow rapidly and feather evenly, or if a heavy mortality occurs, the following pos- sible sources of trouble should be considered.
1.The feed:
(a)Poor formula for starting mash:
1.Too-low protein content---below 20%.
2.Too-low fiber content---below 4%.
3.Lack of vitamins A, B, D, E, G or other essential factors.
4.Too finely ground or sticky when wet.
5.Too coarsely ground, containing large hulls or particles. 6.Possession of undesirable ingredients.
7.Ingredients out of proportion. (b)Staleness or decomposition of the mixture or its ingredients, especially the animal products and the dried alfalfa products. (c)Possession of poisonous substances (rare)
2.Failure of poults to learn to eat. Check the amount of feeding space and type of feeders
3.Failure of poults to learn to drink or to obtain a sufficient quantity of water. Check number and type of waterers, making sure the poults can actually reach the water.
4.Insufficient feeding space.
5.Overcrowding under hover or in brooding quarters.
6.Dampness under hovers.
7.Insufficient heat under hover or in brooding quarters (poults need plenty of heat during the first few weeks).
8.Unsuitable litter
9.Poor ventilation in brooder house or under hover.
10.Disease
11. Sometimes it all starts at the hatch, the poults can not get off to a good start and tend to see loses in the first 30 days. Caused by unhealthy poults from the very get go of their life.
