Help with pooh stuck on chick.

[Mohawk Chickens]

I have 12 chicks. I 've got them a week ago. Lost one the first night, but TSC replaced it right away. Feed and water disappear with in a couple hours, which I am assuming is good. I noticed one with pooh stuck on it's butte. Tried to take it off, but too afraid to hurt the little one. Now it is giving the chick a problem. Like it hurts to eliminate, I was just down to clean, water and feed and witnessed this particular on pooh. It would peck at the spot and after dropping a small blob, it would chirp louder than usual. What/ can I get rid of the offending sticky with out hurting the baby? I read a post about olive oil. Is it toxic to chicks? I use it to soften hands and my own cuticles, and it is in shampoo, too.Please help, feeling bad after losing the first one, don't want to lose another. Thanks for reading.

 

[kcjones]

i use a warm wash cloth or a spray bottle for bigger ones , keep it wet for a few minutes and the poop gets soft enough to remove without hurting chick

 

[Atlchick]

Or get a little bowl of warm water and hold it's little bum in the water for several seconds to soften the poo so that it comes off easily. It's a good 'bonding' moment.

 

[Mohawk Chickens]

Thanks, off the try it. Will post the results. Again, thanks.

 

[dreamcatcherarabians]

Just a quick thought, after you bathe the chick's bum, make sure you wrap her up in a nice absorbent towel to dry her off before you put her outside. You can also blow dry her bum, on low, and after the initial "OH MY GOD YOU'RE TRYING TO KILL ME" reaction, they realize it's warm and toasty. I've had birds fall asleep while I dried them. After drying most of the way, I like to wrap them up in a nice warm towel for a little while and let them fall asleep on my lap, another bonding moment.

 

[Mohawk Chickens]

Thanks, again, everyone. I did the bowl of warm water. My chick was a trooper and made no fuss or muss. I think it new that I was trying to help it.