Need Help with Pasty Butt in Almost Two Week old Chicks

[lilbit1123]

I got 7 silkie chicks from RK a little over a week ago. I have lost 3 of them. One died the night I got it. It was also the one that was dropped on the floor by the associate at the store. I really wanted a gold colored one and that was the only one left. The second died overnight with no signs of distress after being active when we went to bed. The third one we worked on for a couple days. It would not grow and was ok walking and then started losing use of its legs. We got Life Lyte tabs to add to the water for vitamins and probiotics once the 3rd one started losing the use of its legs. When it passed I researched and thought that maybe they could have cocci so we got some Corid and took them off the vitamin water and they are now on day 3 of the Corid water.

The last 4 are spry and moving around but one has a constant issue with relieving itself. It gets stuck halfway through the process and we have to help it. We usually use a q-tip soaked in olive oil. This one is also not growing very fast. It is about half the size of the others. This morning we woke up to 3 of them having pasty butt. We have got them cleaned and their vents open by using warm water and then putting olive oil around their vents. We started with a 250 watt heat bulb and they acted like they were hot, all spread out on the opposite end of their brooder, so we switched to a 150 watt heat bulb. I don't know if now they are to cold. We have given the one that has a hard time relieving itself bits of prunes in baby food formula to try to loosen things up. He does not drink as much as the others so we dip his beak in water at least hourly. The poop has definitely gotten more moist but the poor thing is still straining to get it out. We put the 250 watt bulb back on the brooder but now they are acting hot again and moving to the unheated area of the brooder.

We are feeding the Rural King Country Road starter feed. It does say it is medicated. I am starting to wonder if we need a different kind of feed. We tried giving them a boiled egg last night all smooshed up so that they could eat it but they were not interested in that. I am at my wits end on the pasty butt. These chicks have definitely been a challenge but we are still trying. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The last 4 are spry and moving around but one has a constant issue with relieving itself. It gets stuck halfway through the process and we have to help it. We usually use a q-tip soaked in olive oil. This one is also not growing very fast. It is about half the size of the others. This morning we woke up to 3 of them having pasty butt. We have got them cleaned and their vents open by using warm water and then putting olive oil around their vents. We started with a 250 watt heat bulb and they acted like they were hot, all spread out on the opposite end of their brooder, so we switched to a 150 watt heat bulb. I don't know if now they are to cold. We have given the one that has a hard time relieving itself bits of prunes in baby food formula to try to loosen things up. He does not drink as much as the others

We put the 250 watt bulb back on the brooder but now they are acting hot again and moving to the unheated area of the brooder.

Can you post a photo of the chicks and your brooder?

They may be too cool with the 150w or you need to lower it or use the 250w and raise it.

I would give the chicks wet chick starter - make it fairly soupy. For constipation, you can give a little coconut oil or mineral oil. I like coconut oil better since you can put it in the fridge to harden, then give them little chips for them to eat.

Hard to know if it's a feed issue. Usually constipation is due to dehydration. If the chick is not drinking well, then often the wet feed can get more fluids into them.
Do you provide grit?

 

[lilbit1123]

We have not provided grit yet since they are not quite 2 weeks old. How would I wet it? Just put water in it? We just switched to DuMor chick starter feed today to see if it is the food. We have several other babies that are doing great. They are a few weeks older but they have not had any problems at all. These silkies are driving us nuts.

We do give MannaPro grit to the bigger chicks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, you would just add water to a little chick starter.
I think I would also get some vitamins into them as well. I've never had Silkies, but it seems that they may need extra attention according to how many people post in the threads.
For babies, I like to give either Poultry Nutri-Drench or Poultry Cell. 2-3 drop twice a day.

 

[lilbit1123]

Would you give the vitamins in conjunction with the Corid? I thought I had read somewhere to wait until the Corid is over to give them the vitamins again. We were giving vitamins and probiotics before we started the Corid. Thanks so much!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Would you give the vitamins in conjunction with the Corid? I thought I had read somewhere to wait until the Corid is over to give them the vitamins again. We were giving vitamins and probiotics before we started the Corid. Thanks so much!

Oh, no I would not use the vitamins with Corid - I forgot you were giving Corid - you are correct not to give vitamins until after you finish treatment.