Help please! Pasty butt?

[hEEather]

I had one polish chick die and 2 others now have it. What am I doing wrong? I've had lots of chicks and this has only happened to one other time with 1 chick out of 20 or 30. I cleaned the one who died a few days in a row and when I got home from work yesterday it had passed. Help me help them please! These were expensive and my dh is so upset. I know it happens but these were his babies he picked out.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

Pasty butt is usually caused by having a too-hot brooder. What is the temp in your brooder ATM?

 

[hEEather]

90° should I go to 85°

Pasty butt is usually caused by having a too-hot brooder. What is the temp in your brooder ATM?

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

@MGG
do you mind helping this person out? I usually let my broody hens raise the babies, so I'm not very experienced with heat lamps \ brooders.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

Also how old are your chicks hEEather?

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

 

[NatJ]

90° should I go to 85°

Does the brooder have a cooler area as well?

That's the easiest way to get the temperature right: one end at 90 degrees, one end much cooler (preferably 70 degrees or less). Then the chicks can go back and forth, and find which area is just right. They usually want the warmer area when they sleep, and the cooler area when they are playing and running around.

(I don't know what to advise about the pasty butt, just addressing the temperature question.)

 

[MGG]

I had one polish chick die and 2 others now have it. What am I doing wrong? I've had lots of chicks and this has only happened to one other time with 1 chick out of 20 or 30. I cleaned the one who died a few days in a row and when I got home from work yesterday it had passed. Help me help them please! These were expensive and my dh is so upset. I know it happens but these were his babies he picked out.

Aww. I'm sorry you lost one!

90° should I go to 85°

I would drop it to at least 85, maybe 80 even.
And do you have any ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar)?
I've had good luck using ACV in the water to clear up pasty butt. Keep cleaning them, gently.

 

[hEEather]

Also how old are your chicks hEEather?

They are right at 2 weeks I believe. They have some wing feathering. We bought them road side and they only had tips popping on their wings. Still mostly down.

Does the brooder have a cooler area as well?

That's the easiest way to get the temperature right: one end at 90 degrees, one end much cooler (preferably 70 degrees or less). Then the chicks can go back and forth, and find which area is just right. They usually want the warmer area when they sleep, and the cooler area when they are playing and running around.

(I don't know what to advise about the pasty butt, just addressing the temperature question.)

Yes it does. The lamp heats one side to the heated temp and the other side is cooler. I'll have to add a thermometer to that side and see. It's in my patio room which is only slightly cooler than out side right now. Haven't ran the ac. Its 80ish here so.

 

[NatJ]

Yes it does. The lamp heats one side to the heated temp and the other side is cooler. I'll have to add a thermometer to that side and see. It's in my patio room which is only slightly cooler than out side right now. Haven't ran the ac. Its 80ish here so.

Checking the temperature is a good idea.
But if it matches what you've just said, it sounds fine to me.