One of my chicks died, pasty butt?

[PeachygirlGA]

I got 27 chicks in the mail Monday from Murray McMurray. Yesterday, one of the yellow ones I noticed had poop stuck on her so I ran warm water over it until I cleaned it off. Put her back in the brooder and watched until I saw her poop. Feathers fluffed back out and she laid down to sleep, looked exhausted. This morning she was dead. Did I notice too late? Now I'm checking all the others and haven't noticed any with the poopy so hopefully this is the only one. I had no idea they could die so quickly from that.

 

[red horse ranch]

I got 27 chicks in the mail Monday from Murray McMurray. Yesterday, one of the yellow ones I noticed had poop stuck on her so I ran warm water over it until I cleaned it off. Put her back in the brooder and watched until I saw her poop. Feathers fluffed back out and she laid down to sleep, looked exhausted. This morning she was dead. Did I notice too late? Now I'm checking all the others and haven't noticed any with the poopy so hopefully this is the only one. I had no idea they could die so quickly from that.

It could have been the getting wet that chilled the chick. I've lost them that way before and I don't use water to clean them.. But it could have just been the stress and getting chilled in shipment. It's not uncommon to lose them a few days after shipment. They are just lethargic and not interested in food. If it's vent was open after being cleaned it should have immediately pooped if it was stopped up.
I always just pick off the dried poop with my fingernails. A little down may come off with the poop but that helps prevent it from happening again.
Sorry you lost the chick.

 

[PeachygirlGA]

I tried to pick it off dry but it was stuck really good. She pooped within 5 minutes of going back in the brooder, so we thought all was well. Sadly I had not checked their rears when I got them, so it could have been like that for a couple of days. I haven't gotten this many chicks before so didn't really know to look out for that. Now I'm paranoid!

 

[PrairieChickens]

Like was said, if you'd waited too long to clean the pasty butt, you would have known while you were cleaning it off. I spotted pasty butt on a banty this morning, and the moment I'd cleared the vent, I got pooed on. If it took her several minutes to poop after being unblocked, then the cause of death was not toxicity buildup. Far more likely is that she was injured during shipping or had an underlying health problem that caught up with her. There's a reason most companies offer a 48 hour window to report deaths after delivery--it's not uncommon for chicks to pass away a couple of days after being shipped.

It's good that you're watching for pasty butt. In the future, you might try soaking the poo with a wet q-tip rather than wetting down the chick herself. Although I doubt your chick died from being chilled (she would have told you if she was that cold in loud, unhappy cries), it is easier and less stressful on the chick.

Good luck with the rest of your brood!