Not an emergency, just weird?

[jeepgirl13]

Was just scrubbing some poo off my little chicks behind. As I was drying him, I noticed he had a weird little growth on his back just above his tail. Looks like a skin tag to me, anyone ever seen anything like this? Just thought it was weird.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds like the oil preen gland.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is his oil or preen gland, and all chickens have those.

 

[jeepgirl13]

Oh ok. I've just never noticed it before. . This little guy had a lot of poop, so I was looking extra close this time.

 

[DobieLover]

Oh ok. I've just never noticed it before. . This little guy had a lot of poop, so I was looking extra close this time.

How warm is it in your brooder? What is the temperature under the heat source and away from it?

 

[jeepgirl13]

I'm not sure to be honest with you. I've never really taken temp readings. My heat lamp points down in one end, so theres a really warm spot in the middle of the light, and it cools off out towards the edges. And the other end has no light so they can cool off. It's a large metal horse trough, and I've observed them moving through all the temp gradients, with a slight preference for just outside the center of the hottest spot. I can go get temp readings real quick tho if you're curious.

 

[coach723]

Being cold, stressed, or too hot are all some common causes of pasty butt, which is why the temp of your brooder was asked. I use a heat plate and rarely have a pasty butt issue with chicks, they are much better able to self regulate that way. If using a heat lamp you do need to be more careful that the temp is correct.
Here's more info that might be helpful:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/baby-chick-basics-what-you-need-to-know/

 

[jeepgirl13]

Being cold, stressed, or too hot are all some common causes of pasty butt, which is why the temp of your brooder was asked. I use a heat plate and rarely have a pasty butt issue with chicks, they are much better able to self regulate that way. If using a heat lamp you do need to be more careful that the temp is correct.
Here's more info that might be helpful:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/baby-chick-basics-what-you-need-to-know/

Ok thanks, I'll check it out and go put a couple thermometers in there to get a good read. That chick there was pretty gooey when he hatched. I had to clean some gunk off him after he came out the bator. I dont think I did a good enough initial job back there and his poo just kinda built up. The other two chicks in there dont have it at all. I've never taken readings cuz it was such a large area with very obvious temp range. Lots of room to go where they need. Food and water is set up just outside the light ring.

I'm heading back out there once the baby decides to nap again. I'll get temp readings while I'm out there

 

[jeepgirl13]

Being cold, stressed, or too hot are all some common causes of pasty butt, which is why the temp of your brooder was asked. I use a heat plate and rarely have a pasty butt issue with chicks, they are much better able to self regulate that way. If using a heat lamp you do need to be more careful that the temp is correct.
Here's more info that might be helpful:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/baby-chick-basics-what-you-need-to-know/

Well the temp in the center of the light, at the hottest end of the brooder was about 105, but they seemed to enjoy the outer edge of the light. I will have my hubby make a bracket we can move the lamp up more with.

The cool end of the brooder is about 80, and the area they like to hang out in is about 95 to 97. I've got a mercury thermometer I'm checking these temps with.

 

[coach723]

The hottest spot under the lamp should be 90-95 F the first week, and then drop by 5 degrees each week.