Pasting and . . . baking soda?

[library910]

Getting ready to receive our first chicks, and the local feed store had a seminar on raising chicks. Brought in a vet tech, a rep from a feed company--it was all very interesting. But they mentioned something I have not read anyplace before, or seen anywhere in this forum: to help prevent chicks from pasting up, they said to--along with a vitamin and electrolyte mixture--add one tablespoon of baking soda per gallon of their drinking water for the first week.

Has anyone heard of, or tried this?

 

[txchickie]

Never heard of it, but it is very interesting!!

 

[Carpe DiHen]

I'm very intersted in this. I'm a newbie and I've been watching to hope someone will answer with experience.

 

[Carpe DiHen]

I'm so surprised nobody has posted any experience with this.

Has anybody heard of this? I was all ready to add this to my list of things to do, but no posts??

 

[mstricer]

I'm no expert but I thought chicks got pasty butt from being to cold.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

I have not heard of this. I had a few chicks with pasty butt and I gave them chick grit on a dish and it went away.

 

[morelcabin]

Baking soda has many many health advantages in people, and I can see where it would help with pasty butts. In people, 1/4 tsp in a glass of water 4 times a day when you have a cough or cold or flu will make things ALOT better. It alkanalizes your system, thus killing off bacterial and viral infections of any kind. I would definitely give it a try, it would probably work wonders

 

[Serrin]

To the best of my knowledge, pasting up comes mostly from introducing greens into their diet too soon. It causes diarrhea and thus pasting. I could be wrong about this. I've never had the problem as for the first two weeks I keep them strictly on the starter formula and a bit of scrambled eggs for additional protein and as a treat.

Ask Speckledhen! She is our resident reigning Hatch Queen!!

 

[Carpe DiHen]

Quote:
Wow, I did not know that! I think I'm going to sip on a little myself!

 

[txchickie]

Quote:
Nope....I have week old chicks that have had NOTHING but chick starter and I've been scrubbing bums daily