Mild pasty butt??

[Rick&Chris]

. Sorry for the super large photo!! Is this a mild case of pasty butt? I have two 2-week old chicks with butts like this. The vent is clear, just dried dribble on the feathers. Should I clean them or let it be? I’m afraid to do too much for fear of the umbilical cord.

 

[DobieLover]

It's fine to clean them up. What umbilical cord?

 

[Rick&Chris]

It's fine to clean them up. What umbilical cord?

Apparently they have a little thread like cord that comes out just below the vent. I was told that was the umbilical cord and you cannot pull on it without hurting them

 

[DobieLover]

Umbilical cords are only on mammals.
Your chicks are 2 weeks old. Whatever the connect to the yolk/membrane your chick had, it should have already fallen off. It should be safe to carefully clean off your chicks.

 

[Duck Hill]

Baby chicks and ducklings do have umbilical cords that connect to the network of blood vessels that provide oxygen while they are in the egg. The navel is on the belly, and should never be pulled on, particularly during the first few days.

Pasty butt can quickly become dangerous, because if the exit is blocked, they can die. So cleaning is a good idea.

If the umbilical cord is still attached to the belly button, don't pull, but you can still clean the area by soaking and very gently rubbing without pulling on the cord. If there is no umbilical cord, then cleaning is easier.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

While not specifically an umbilical cord, they do have a structure that attaches the embryo's abdomen to the yolk sac.

 

[Duck Hill]

There are two structures. One attaches the baby to the yolk sack, and this structure helps pull the yolk inside the baby when the baby is born. This first structure disappears into the baby when the yolk goes inside.

The other structure attaches the baby to the veins on the egg membrane. This second structure is the one that must have time to dry as the baby is being born. Helping a chick or duckling be born too early can be dangerous because if there is still blood flowing in this structure and it is broken, the chick can bleed out and die. This second structure is the one which leaves behind a "cord" when the baby is born.

 

[imnukensc]

Yes, you can safely clean that off. When I clean a chick with pasty butt, I hold its butt under luke warm running water and gently massage the softened crap off and then dry the chick. FWIW, that just looks like some dribbles stuck to the chick's rear. Doesn't look like pasty butt, but it should still be cleaned off. Any cord, umbilical or otherwise, is long gone on a 2 week old chick.

 

[Rick&Chris]

Yes, you can safely clean that off. When I clean a chick with pasty butt, I hold its butt under luke warm running water and gently massage the softened crap off and then dry the chick. FWIW, that just looks like some dribbles stuck to the chick's rear. Doesn't look like pasty butt, but it should still be cleaned off. Any cord, umbilical or otherwise, is long gone on a 2 week old chick.

I thought it was dribbles, too - but wasn't sure if that could lead to pasty butt. She has been picking at it and trying to get it off. It's gross. I'll clean it.

So if it is not pasty butt, is there nothing that I should/can do to prevent this?

 

[aart]

So if it is not pasty butt, is there nothing that I should/can do to prevent this?

Clean off poop then put a tiny dab of oil on the down around vent to keep any more from sticking.

Look closely at the chicks anatomy, learn to distinguish the vent from the umbilicus.
Once you get it you'll never forget, but it can be confusing at first.
The vent is right under the tail, the umbilicus in closer to between their legs.
Hmmmm...used to have a good pic...will tr to dig it up.