Got a bunch of chicks for free because they all had bad case of pastey butt.
Most I brought home and dipped their little butts in some warm water, cleaned off the crud and they were fine except for a little rawness. However, one little red chick, still not sure what exactly it is, had a severly swollen and hard vent.
It was actually protruding out almost an inch. I soaked it, wiped it clean, but couldn't figure out what was actually WRONG with its rear.
I noticed it wasn't eating and drinking and was very inactive compared to the other rambunctious chicks. So upon further examination I realized that the swollen protrusion was actually crusted up poo inside that it could not pass. Never having encountered this bad of a case before I had to stop and think of some ideas of what I might do. So after a couple minutes I assembled an eye dropper, a wet paper towel and a toothpick. I held the chick, butt up and spread the vent open with my fingers, dropped in a few drops of warm water and waited about 1 minute. I then opened the vent again and began to use the toothpick to gently pick out the cement like poo while stopping periodically to add a few more drops of water or use the paper towel to wipe. I dug and I dug and I DUG until I was astounded at how much poo was stuck inside the tiny chick.
How on earth did it all fit? Needless to say, as much teasing as I've received for doing such grotesque procedures,
I'm happy to report that the little chick is now eating and drinking and behaving as a normal chick should. I've checked it several times a day and so far, no more pastey butt.
Has anyone else had to do this?
