Pasting Up or Something Else?

[Elevelyn]

I think one of my 3-day-old chicks is pasting up. Poops are gathering on her backside, but her vent is still visible.

This is the part I'm really concerned about: she keeps backing up like she is trying to poop and nothing comes out. Then she tries to preen herself. So I get the sense she feels like something is blocked. She has managed to squeeze a little bit out twice this evening, but it's such a minute amount that it just sticks to her.

I have cleaned her off a few times with warm water and paper towels to make sure her vent is completely visible, but nothing comes out after (I keep hoping for the big poop).

Other than that, she is drinking, eating, and interacting fine.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? Is this pasting or something else going on?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

You might try to give her a little bit of yogurt to move things along.

I would definitely check your temperatures and make sure they are not too hot. Make sure they can get away from the heat and your temps should be in the 90-95 range at that age (decrease by 5 degrees per week until fully feathered).

If they are losing too much water from evaporation they might become constipated. Also I have read that being too cold can cause pasting up. However, the reality is that I deal with pasty butt in all my batches of shipped chicks (except my Fayoumis). There are always a few that have the pasting up. I have indeed seen a little one straining to go while pasted up, and then when it is washed off they poo quite a bit. That is the moment their life was saved!

So you are quite correct IMO to be concerned. I would dip her beak in water several times also.

 

[Vermont Mama]

Hi- Newbie here. One of my silkies (she is the smallest in our flock of 8) has the same issue but she has a red swollen lump just inside her vent. She does not seem blocked, but she does small poos that stick to her bottom feathers. The red lump just appeared yesterday -she has had pasty butt since she arrived on Wednesday. We have been cleaning her with warm washcloth/Q-tips 2x daily. We then blot dry with cotton balls. She trembles a lot when we clean her, and I am concerned about over-stressing her. We plan to start olive oil rubbed on her bottom and a little yogurt mixed in her food (as I've read here). What should we do about the lump?
I moved their brooder a couple of inches further from the heat lamp so the heat is just about 90 now. All the chicks are moving around normally- not huddled, not trying to get away from the lamp area. She is eating and drinking.

I would greatly appreciate any help. I don't want my ignorance to result in her dying.