Hard stool on butt

[LyonFuzz]

I received my chicks in the mail the other day and all look and act very happy However, I noticed some hard poo stuck to the butts of some of them. I washed their back sides with warm water on a towel. All are eating and drinking fine. I am feeding "flock raiser". Should I be worried?

 

[Judy]

It's a very common condition in shipped chicks, probably due at least in part to dehydration leading to constipation. It can be very serious if the poop dries in a position so that the vent is not kept open. I prefer to hold them under a gentle stream of running warm water, but soaking their bottom is a good approach, too. Any wiping or cleaning with a cloth or paper towel can easily damage their tissue, leaving them with open abrasions.

After cleaning, put a little Vaseline, cooking oil, Crisco, Neosporin or whatever on their bottom to help prevent constipated poop from sticking so badly the next time. You may find yourself leaving a little of the dried stuff on the ends of their feathers away from the skin. Be sure they have plenty of water and that it is kept (more or less) free of pine shavings or whatever you are using for litter. It helps to set the waterer up on a brick or the like, and to put a paper plate or the like under the brick. so they won't scratch the shavings into the water so much. Hopefully it will clear up in a few days.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is known as pasty butt, or pasting up. It usually affects chicks who have been shipped in the mail more so, and is usually from a lack of water initially, or from keeping brooder temps too high which in turn would dehydrate them a bit. Use a little soap and warm water and rub it off with your fingers, and try not to get them very wet--just the vent, then dry thoroughly with a tissue. By 10 days old, it is usaully cleared up.

 

[LyonFuzz]

Thank you for the insight and advice It all makes perfect sense.