My chick died because i failed to check for pasty butt

[Happy_Chicken]

I had recently gotten 6 chicks, now 5. 3 different breeds in pairs. Because the breeds i wanted were very specific, i got all my pairs 2 or so weeks apart which meant once i got another pair, the other chicks would already be a lot bigger than them but i kept them in a brooder together. When I got them i knew i was conscious of pasty butt, something i was so attentive about with the first batch of chicks i ever raised. Well, today i was cleaning out their brooder to lay down some new bedding when i took all the chicks out and noticed one of the newest chicks i had just gotten had the most terrible pasty butt i had ever seen. She seemed fine before but I'm ashamed to say i probably wasn't paying the most attention i should have. My mother and i frantically tried to get her clean, she was fading, couldn't keep her eyes open, and wouldn't stand up. We had to put her bottom half in a bowl of warm water and used warm towels from the dryer to dry her off and keep her warm. I put her back in the brooder surrounded by fresh bedding so she could have the heating lamp and i stayed there until unfortunately she passed away 20 or so minutes later, it looked like a few times she would attempt to get up but would fall down and close her eyes again. I'm certain it was due to my neglect of her pasty butt which i hadn't noticed and stupidly completely forgot to think about and check for. But i also noticed that one of the first chicks that i got who is big even compared to her sister, would throw herself into the corner where my little chick was and step all over her while she was laying there. I had noticed she would step on them sometimes but i thought they would be okay. After my chick was already gone, i noticed the big chick was stepping all over my other small chick and kicked her across the brooder. So i gave my big chick a completely separate box but I'm thinking perhaps being stepped all over might have been a small contributing factor to my other chick passing away. I can't tell you how upset this makes me. I killed my chick whether i meant to or not.

 

[LaFleche]

Hi @Teddy_29 and welcome to the BYC community!

I am sorry you lost your chick.

Don't beat yourself up, it is a learning curve and we all make mistakes and learn because of it. Next time you know what to do and will hopefully not lose anymore because of pasty butt or trying to raise them in the same brooder despite their age difference.

But we can't always prevent their untimely death, sometimes they just fail to thrive, no matter how well they will be cared for.

 

[Lor]

I had recently gotten 6 chicks, now 5. 3 different breeds in pairs. Because the breeds i wanted were very specific, i got all my pairs 2 or so weeks apart which meant once i got another pair, the other chicks would already be a lot bigger than them but i kept them in a brooder together. When I got them i knew i was conscious of pasty butt, something i was so attentive about with the first batch of chicks i ever raised. Well, today i was cleaning out their brooder to lay down some new bedding when i took all the chicks out and noticed one of the newest chicks i had just gotten had the most terrible pasty butt i had ever seen. She seemed fine before but I'm ashamed to say i probably wasn't paying the most attention i should have. My mother and i frantically tried to get her clean, she was fading, couldn't keep her eyes open, and wouldn't stand up. We had to put her bottom half in a bowl of warm water and used warm towels from the dryer to dry her off and keep her warm. I put her back in the brooder surrounded by fresh bedding so she could have the heating lamp and i stayed there until unfortunately she passed away 20 or so minutes later, it looked like a few times she would attempt to get up but would fall down and close her eyes again. I'm certain it was due to my neglect of her pasty butt which i hadn't noticed and stupidly completely forgot to think about and check for. But i also noticed that one of the first chicks that i got who is big even compared to her sister, would throw herself into the corner where my little chick was and step all over her while she was laying there. I had noticed she would step on them sometimes but i thought they would be okay. After my chick was already gone, i noticed the big chick was stepping all over my other small chick and kicked her across the brooder. So i gave my big chick a completely separate box but I'm thinking perhaps being stepped all over might have been a small contributing factor to my other chick passing away. I can't tell you how upset this makes me. I killed my chick whether i meant to or not.

Hugs.
We lost an orpington chick a few days after getting them. No pasty butt and she seemed to be eating and drinking. You just never know.

 

[-Isla June-]

I had recently gotten 6 chicks, now 5. 3 different breeds in pairs. Because the breeds i wanted were very specific, i got all my pairs 2 or so weeks apart which meant once i got another pair, the other chicks would already be a lot bigger than them but i kept them in a brooder together. When I got them i knew i was conscious of pasty butt, something i was so attentive about with the first batch of chicks i ever raised. Well, today i was cleaning out their brooder to lay down some new bedding when i took all the chicks out and noticed one of the newest chicks i had just gotten had the most terrible pasty butt i had ever seen. She seemed fine before but I'm ashamed to say i probably wasn't paying the most attention i should have. My mother and i frantically tried to get her clean, she was fading, couldn't keep her eyes open, and wouldn't stand up. We had to put her bottom half in a bowl of warm water and used warm towels from the dryer to dry her off and keep her warm. I put her back in the brooder surrounded by fresh bedding so she could have the heating lamp and i stayed there until unfortunately she passed away 20 or so minutes later, it looked like a few times she would attempt to get up but would fall down and close her eyes again. I'm certain it was due to my neglect of her pasty butt which i hadn't noticed and stupidly completely forgot to think about and check for. But i also noticed that one of the first chicks that i got who is big even compared to her sister, would throw herself into the corner where my little chick was and step all over her while she was laying there. I had noticed she would step on them sometimes but i thought they would be okay. After my chick was already gone, i noticed the big chick was stepping all over my other small chick and kicked her across the brooder. So i gave my big chick a completely separate box but I'm thinking perhaps being stepped all over might have been a small contributing factor to my other chick passing away. I can't tell you how upset this makes me. I killed my chick whether i meant to or not.

I am so sorry for your loss, but it is ok we all mess up! I have lost three chickens in one month and I am so sad for you and me and all the members losing their hens... all mistakes allow us to learn something, and I am sure this one has helped you to learn. I am so sorry, I am praying! John 3:16

 

[McChooky]

Mixing chicks of different ages isn't a good idea. Mixing bantams and standard chicks could cause a problem too.