HELP How long does pasty butt usually last, distressed chick

[Judy]

Quote:
I've had a few batches of chicks raised by broodies in my dirt floor coop, and never saw a case of pasty butt. When I raised chicks in a brooder I had the problem for a few days. I have read several times that it does not happen to chicks raised by a broody. Hopefully the ACV will help.

One of the causes of pasty butt is being too warm in the brooder. They will need plenty of warmth when wet after cleaning, but the others should have a place in the brooder where it is definitely cooler so they can get away from the heat when they want. Some larger brooders have spots that are much, much cooler, and many chicks still go there. From watching my broody raised chicks playing outdoors at 2 or 3 days of age, I have decided they are a lot hardier than we think. As long as heat is available when they want it, they are fine.

 

[hcarr1234]

I have 15 chicks in my brooder and only one had pasty butt. As was said before it lasted about 10 days. The chick is fine now. I feed starter ceumbles and fresh water. I live in town so I sort of age the water a couple of days before giving it to them sort of like for aquarium fish. I wonder if the chemicals (chlorine,floride,etc.) would cause problems?

 

[SDR]

I'd like to throw a question into the mix for those using yogurt. What kind are you using?

I had a chick with a bad case of pasty butt so I thought I'd try yogurt and bought plain unflavored and none of the chicks would have a thing to do with it, no matter how I presented it. In fact if any of them would take a crumble with yogurt on it they acted like fussy kids eating vegetables and would wipe their beaks on the ground. Kind of funny to watch actually.

As a side note the pasty butt did go away after two a day cleanings for a few days. And to address the question regarding city water being an issue. I'm on well water and still had a couple chicks with the problem.

 

[Judy]

I always buy plain unflavored live culture yogurt when I give it to the chickens. Usually has to be a brand like Dannon or Breyer's. No point in it unless "live culture" is on the label.

 

[rilly10]

Quote:
X2! I wouldn't over complicate things! I hatch over 100 chicks per season, and almost NEVER have pasty butt. I feed medicated chick crumbles, with fresh water. I will add ACV in the water, but only if one has pasty butt. Yogurt is good for adult birds as a probiotic, but can really overload a chicks gut with way too much bacteria and cause pastybutt. I never give treats until they are a few months old. Keep it simple and it should clear up.

I know this probably sounds cruel, but I just pull the wad off dry. no baths. This will pull some feathers out, but they are the feathers that the poo gets stuck to. Once I do that once, it never has come back. It may sting for a sec, but I believe it is much less stressful for the chick than a bath. Plus no worry they will get chilled.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I have had it happen to only a few chicks raised by a broody, however both were "special needs" One had a crossbeak and tremors and still to this day (being about 3 years old) has issues with pasty butt, the other is a micro sized serama who is only 7 oz. I am not sure why it happens or if it has anything to do with the feed or what. I use vasoline as a precaution. When we first started with chickens and got our first batch of chicks we had no clue about pasty butt and lost a few chicks because of it. Since then I have been very cautious.

 

[featherz]

I don't use water for my pasty butts.. I haven't seen one in a while (since I started hatching my own, I haven't seen a single pasty butt), but when I did, I used vaseline on a q-tip - roll the tip over the area and the pasting will come right off, plus there's a little bit left to help it from repasting. I generally didn't have to do this more than once and they weren't all wet afterwards.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I've brooded hundreds of chicks over the past couple years, and only 1 mild, short case of pasty butt. (came that way) I know feeding yogurt has an almost mystical and mythic following of adherents, but I have never fed it. Never saw a broody hen offer yogurt to her chicks either.

Clean water, moderate to low heat, and chick starter. Pasty butt is also related to de-hydration caused by excessive heat. That's it. Haven't lost a chick either in years and years.

 

[Judy]

Fred's Hens :

I've brooded hundreds of chicks over the past couple years, and only 1 mild, short case of pasty butt. (came that way) I know feeding yogurt has an almost mystical and mythic following of adherents, but I have never fed it. Never saw a broody hen offer yogurt to her chicks either.

Clean water, moderate to low heat, and chick starter. Pasty butt is also related to de-hydration caused by excessive heat. That's it. Haven't lost a chick either in years and years.

Wise words, IMO. I fear many of these chicks, especially in small brooders, are simply too hot, and in a small brooder there really isn't anywhere to go to cool off if they want to.​

 

[GhostRider65]

Ty all for the great answers I hate being new at stuff but then again yah never learn anything if ya never try anything new, nor do ya have the chance to learn by your mistakes, unfortunately, my babie's are the ones who are paying for it. arggggggggg I feel terrible. I thought the yogurt was good for them at this age because of the bacteria it would help get their little systems going good. Mt brooder is large enough that the temp in front is like 72 and directly under the sweeter heater, it was 100, I did raise it and its like 95 now.
I thought a 100 was too hot tho several -people have told me 95 to 100 the first week. then 5 degrees lower each week. One thing I wish the sweeter heater had was a built in thermostat, maybe it would be a bit easier to regulate. my brooder is only 23 inches high, and I'm now only 6 inches from the top?? hope I don't need more room than that. TY all again, any more suggestions definitely welcome. Kim