How do you treat pasty butt in chicks?!?!

[chrissynemetz]

I agree with @EggSighted4Life
I'm not an expert, but the only times I've had chicks with pasty butt was when I've had their brooder temps too warm. It really leads me to think overly high temperature is a common cause of it.

 

[Lelanae]

@Miss Lydia how much? I have a quart waterer and put in maybe a half teaspoon of so

Thank you!

 

[MGG]

You'll know its too much if they don't drink it. If they drink it, you're good. I don't think you can overdose on it really, I just kinda eyeball it. If they don't drink it, dump some of the water mixture out and add some more water. It's mostly a guessing game. I've had some chicks love it and some hate it, so I adjust as needed. Hope this helps!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I agree with @EggSighted4Life
I'm not an expert, but the only times I've had chicks with pasty butt was when I've had their brooder temps too warm. It really leads me to think overly high temperature is a common cause of it.

What's funny is... I once had 3 barred rock chicks that I thought were cold under the heat lamp... so I closed the top of the box. A few minutes later I checked and they were all as far away from the light as possible, panting, etc. The thermometer said 120 F! Fortunately I didn't actually bake them... but not a single one got pasty butt.

On the other hand... I have also had broody hatched and raised chicks get pasty butt on occasion... It seem pasty butt can be caused by MANY issues and is a lot more complicated than we are lead to believe initially.

Also, I've hatched hundreds of chicks... sometimes one or two will get pasty butt... despite ALL others NOT experiencing it... in the same brooder, with the same feed, and the same temps... only difference is genetics, individual immune systems, etc.

Any chick that accidentally gets some poo on it's bumm fluff will have it continue to build every time it poos and dry on... in my experience.

 

[aroostercalledBrownie]

A bit of ACV in the water cleared up overnight almost 20 guinea pasty butts! I'm a firm believer in that stuff! I no longer had to wash a bunch of rears every few hours! you got some good advice from everyone else too

Thank you!!!

 

[waddlehead]

I feed my chicks oats about once a week. I didn't get pasty but at all after that..

 

[Shadrach]

Great suggestions above but if you free range and have a broody taking care of the chicks the washing (you have to take the chick away from the mother and this stresses both) isn't such a good idea.
Chick need to be absolutely dry and this takes yet more time.
I pick the crap off with my bare hands sitting as close to the mother and other chicks as possible. Yup, you sometimes get an irate mum trying to flog you but usually the chicks are so young that they don't give a distress call.
I haven't found any diet that will prevent it and I agree with Eggsight4life, it's probably genetic or a problem caused during incubation and hatch.
It can be quite difficult to deal with in free range flocks. Firstly you have to notice it and that means finding mum and chicks and being able to inspect them. Thankfully ime pasty bum happens in the first few days if it happens at all.

 

[Danzzing]

Well I just discovered one chick.with pasty butt. I have a utility sink near their brooder and gentle held the tail feather under Luke warm running water. Used paper towel and wiped away. A little red so put dab Manuka on it and separated her from the others with her own probiotic infused water and organic feed. Hope she heals soon

 

[Bruthabuz]

How much ACV to how much water?

The hatchery I order chicks from suggests 1/4 cup (2 oz.) of raw ACV to every quart (32 oz.) of water.