Help please i'm afraid i hurt my baby chicks butt

[Happy_Chicken]

I've got 6 baby chicks that are almost 3 weeks old. Only one of them so far has had an issue with a pasty butt. I've had to clean her twice. But this time I'm afraid I've hurt her. I tried to be as gentle as i can and trying not to pull on the dry poop but gentle wipe it away after soaking it in warm water (not too warm) but she's waddling around a little after this time. She only started waddling after i cleaned her today. I heard pasty butt can be a huge problem for baby chicks so I'm worried about her the most but usually she behaves just like all the other chicks, she eats and drinks normally and moves pretty good.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos of her vent?

Could she be waddling because her butt is wet? Did you dry her off and fluff her up before putting her back in the brooder?

 

[Thunder344]

Pictures would be great.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Probably waddling because of an uncomfortable wet vent area.

How are you cleaning her?

Take an old toothbrush and gently clean off the spot with lukewarm water.

 

[Kriscam]

I've got 6 baby chicks that are almost 3 weeks old. Only one of them so far has had an issue with a pasty butt. I've had to clean her twice. But this time I'm afraid I've hurt her. I tried to be as gentle as i can and trying not to pull on the dry poop but gentle wipe it away after soaking it in warm water (not too warm) but she's waddling around a little after this time. She only started waddling after i cleaned her today. I heard pasty butt can be a huge problem for baby chicks so I'm worried about her the most but usually she behaves just like all the other chicks, she eats and drinks normally and moves pretty good.

I don't have an answer but wanted to lend moral support. One of my chicks got pasty butt after a few days. I started using an eye dropper with warm water and hold her close to my body. This seems to help her stay calm and I don't get her entire bottom wet.

 

[Bluebird4]

I've got 6 baby chicks that are almost 3 weeks old. Only one of them so far has had an issue with a pasty butt. I've had to clean her twice. But this time I'm afraid I've hurt her. I tried to be as gentle as i can and trying not to pull on the dry poop but gentle wipe it away after soaking it in warm water (not too warm) but she's waddling around a little after this time. She only started waddling after i cleaned her today. I heard pasty butt can be a huge problem for baby chicks so I'm worried about her the most but usually she behaves just like all the other chicks, she eats and drinks normally and moves pretty good.

Solution for pasty but is to add 3/4 tsp of apple cider vinegar for a quart of water. You can add it to the communal waterer, it won’t hurt if other chicks don’t have pasty butt. If it doesn’t work, you can add more apple cider vinegar, up to 1 tsp. I recommend you try this electrolyte mix to prevent pasty butt in the future:

per 1 quart water

4 cups warm water
2tbsp + 1 tsp white granulated sugar or molasses
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
OPTIONAL: 1/2 tsp potassium chloride


Only feed this to chicks while they are in the brooder. Once they move out, it’s best to move to a store bought electrolyte mix. Just add this to their water. The best way to find potassium chloride is to find a salt substitute in the store. Just adjust the recipe to the size of your waterer. Hope this helps!!!

If you use your own electrolyte mix, I would add just the apple cider vinegar. You can also try mixing their feed into some scrambled eggs, plain, greek yogurt or cornmeal.

 

[Bluebird4]

How are your babies doing?