Outgrowing Pasting Up?

[EggieRowe]

I just got my baby chicks yesterday morning from McMurray. None of the 28 had a pasty butt. However, this morning I notice two of the yellow chicks had some stuff stuck to their butt area, but not directly around the vent - just the tips of their fuzz/feathers. I didn't have time to check the non-yellow ones before work, but I will at lunch. Is there a time period in which I can stop worrying about them pasting up, like week old? Or do I need to be checking them daily until they're feathered out? And I read its not good to handle them so much the first couple of days - how does that work for the dark colored chicks? I have to pick them up to check their butts, or at least touch them. Wouldn't the stress trigger pasting up?

 

[chickenbythesea]

I'm not sure what always causes pasty butt... there's lots of things (stress, eating shavings etc). Ya, you do generally try not to handle them too much at first but you'll have to in order to clean their butts. I've only had very few with it but noticed that it usually lasted about a week. I still check/eyeball them when I'm taking out their fresh water in the mornings, that way I know they're all healthy. I've never heard of there being a difference in handling different colour chicks... should be the same. I also add a little electrolyte to the water for the first couple days (as per package instructions) to help with the stress of relocating. Hope this helps.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I am of the belief that pasting is a stress reaction. It can be brought on by various kinds of stress, but shipping seems to be the most common cause. In my experience after you've had them for three days or so whatever shipping related stress they may have experienced that would cause pasting should have passed if you have been feeding and managing them right.

When I receive shipped chicks I put a nice layer of rolled oats (as in your breakfast oats) on top of their chick feed for those first three days. The extra fiber seems to help. After that I stop with the oats and let the birds eat their regular unsupplemented starter. With birds I hatch myself I don't bother with oats since they only have to travel about eighty yards from the house to the shop.

Check them all every day for those first three days. Soften any caked on manure with warm water and it'll pull off easily. Don't allow the chicks to become chilled while you are doing this.

 

[EggieRowe]

Thanks for the quick replies! With the different color chicks, I just meant that I can see any kind of crusty on the yellow chicks just standing over the brooder, but on the darker chicks I'd have to pick them up to inspect. They did get into the wood shavings last night - they managed to fold one edge of the paper towels over and kicked it all over the place.

I have some QuikChik that I'll mix into their water when I remove the Gro Gel dish today. I think they're not supposed to have both at the same time. This is my first experience w/chicks, although I'm sure its obvious!

 

[Thassa]

I started putting a little apple cider vinegar in my new chick's water and that seemed to help.

 

[EggieRowe]

I'm back from lunch and about 5 had pasty butts, but only one was completely sealed up. Its the wood shavings they got into last night. Guess when I change the paper towels this afternoon I'll need to put something along the edges to keep them from flipping it up and eating it. Wishing I had opted for the larger vs the finer shavings.

 

[shober]

I used the quik chic and the gro gel at the same time! I didn't know it was ill advised. All my girls are fine! Sometimes putting a little vaseline on their little back ends helps the poop fall off more easily. Have fun with your babies!!

 

[Jakoda]

My first chicks are 5 weeks old today, have 9 of them from MPC, have to say, not one has shown any signs of pasty butt 'ever'...I started and continue to put ACV in their water daily, whether this had something to do with it or not, couldn't say.

 

[pmcatnip]

I got 4 chicks from the feed store, they're a week old now and so far so good. I check them twice a day for pasty butt and so far no problems. Should I keep checking this often or are they in the clear? (I do put grit in their feed.) Thanks.

 

[PalmHen]

What is the best way to avoid pasty butt? Ok, so not too much handling the first day or two, electrolytes in the water, large shavings, vaseline on their little vents.....? I only have one that is doing this out of nine new chicks I bought. I'm afraid she'll either die from being handled so much the first days of her life, being chilled from being cleaned so often, or exhaustion from both! I'm going in there right now and put some electrolytes in the water and some oatmeal in their feeder.