Hello there, I discovered this website and am having a great time learning. It's a great, informative site. I just received my very first flock of four chicks from a friend. I'm very excited. They are so cute. I think she said they are one week old. I noticed that one chick has something on it's bottom. I thought it was a bone or something deformed. After taking a closer look I saw that it is hard, crusty poop (I think). Is that normal? The other three chicks look fine. I don't know if this matters, but that chick is also the smallest of all. Does that mean anything? It is also the one that is crying/chirping the most of all. I know from reading a few other posts that you all really have good info to share. I appreciate any info from you all.
Welcome to the hobby and forum. For the little one with the poopy bottom. You want to keep the vent area clean because if not taken care of the chick won't be able to poop and will become backed up and would die from this. To clean to chicks bottom I dip their bottoms in warm water then after about a minute the poop can be removed with a paper towel. The chick won't mind the water but they don't like the towel part, just do it carefully. Enjoy the forum and welcome!!!! Matt
Matt has pretty much addressed it all. It's called "pasty butt". Usually happens in younger chicks, maybe from the stress of moving into a new home, sometimes if they're a little too hot (but as your others are fine, I don't think that'd be it.) I've seen some people say adding a little sand to the feed can help the chicks to stop pasting up.
