I just had my first chicks hatch today!
We ... originally got our chicks (now the mama hen) from mail-order, so of course, we had to deal with the pasted vents for the first week. What I'm wondering is, now with chicks raised by a hen, do we need to be cleaning their vents or will mama somehow take care of that?
In now way is "pasted vents" or "Pasty Butt" a normal baby chick condition. Besides no mama hen is equipped with a tongue like a dogs' to clean her chicks' butt.
I am unsure but I think that you are seeing Salmonella Pullorum Disease in your chicks. Did the source of your mail order chicks or eggs have a National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP) certificate? If not, then you have been had
BIG TIME! Pullorum is passed through the egg and it is incurable. Pullorum usually results in anywhere from 10 - 100% mortality in young chciks. Any bird that survives to adulthood will be a carrier of the disease for life without exception. Adult birds with Pullorum are un-thrifty and are susceptible to other poultry diseases. There is a small chance that the USDA may seize and destroy your back yard flock if it tests positive during an outbreak. Overall Salmonella type Pullorum disease is the most serious poultry disease in the world, bar none. All the ACV, yogurt, toilet paper or soap and water in the world won't change that. Pullorum was once called "White Diarrhea" because of the fecal matter stuck to the chicks' behind. You are not doing your chickens or any other chicken a favor by treating "Pasty Butt" on the contrary you are just slowly killing more chicks. Go back and read what donrae posted.
http://www.apa-abayouthpoultryclub.org/Edu_Material/Poultry Diseases/What_Is_Pullorum_Disease.pdf
WHAT IS PULLORUM DISEASE?
This disease could completely destroy our commercial industry as well as your beautiful flock of poultry in your own backyard. Once just one bird becomes infected we are all in trouble. Protect us all by becoming a member of your state National Poultry Improvement Plan. Get your membership card and be very proud to show it.
Pullorum disease is an acute or chronic infectious, bacterial disease affecting primarily chickens and turkeys, but most domestic and wild fowl can be infected. The cause is a bacterium named Salmonella pullorum. This organism is primarily egg transmitted, but transmission may occur by other means such as: ? Infected hen to egg, egg to chick, or chick to chick in incubator, chick box, brooder, or house.
Survivors become infected breeders (cycle begins again)
Ways Pullorum spreads:
? Mechanical transmission (carried around on clothes, shoes or equipment),
? Carrier birds (apparently healthy birds shed the disease organisms),
? Contaminated premises (from previous outbreaks).
? Disease organisms may enter the bird through the respiratory (as in the
incubator) or digestive systems.
? Most outbreaks of acute pullorum disease in chickens or turkeys result
from infection while in the hatchery.
? Pullorum disease is highly fatal to young chicks or poults, but mature
birds are more resistant. Young birds may die soon after hatching without
exhibiting any observable signs. Most acute outbreaks occur in birds that
are under three weeks of age. Mortality in such outbreaks may approach
ninety percent if untreated. Survivors are usually stunted and unthrifty.
Because death usually occurs soon after hatching you have no way to gauge the health of your mail order chicks unless the hatchery will willingly provide you with a NPIP Certificate. Don't let any chicken cross the road without one.
