Pasty baby butt

[MsVexx]

Hey guys!

Let me apologize first off because I know this has been asked ad nauseam, but I'm relatively new to raising chickens and this is one of the rare 'me too!' posts I feel compelled to cave into. At the very least it will give me peace of mind to hear your words of wisdom and feel like a better mom, knowing that I've tapped all resources.

I'm on my third set of babies within the last 4 months. I've run into pasty butt a few times in the past and it always cleared right up within one or two washings, but I've got a 3week old baby Black Sumatran roo with a chronic case of it. I'll get him cleaned up and by the next day it almost seems like it's worse... his whole backside is crusty from his tail to the bottom of his sternum, and his poor little vent looks swollen and inflamed. I just cleaned him up again with a warm wet washcloth and used a q-tip to gently add some Neosporin to his vent. Is there anything else I can do? Any precautions or things I should be mindful of? Would Coconut oil or Preparation-H be better? Is he too young to add ACV to his water?

Thank you, thank you for your patience in putting up with my 'me too' post. I will have you buy you all some virtual coffee or donuts.

 

[imneva]

I wish I knew but I too am new, heck I don't get my chicks for another week I did read somewhere that you cab keep olive oil on their little buttsies to help it not to stick if it is a cronic issue

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

Disclosure: I am not an expert. Anything I advise is purely opinion based off of personal experience and or research I have done on my own time.

I would strongly recommend Probiotic supplementation: I have had similar problems with chicks and pullets (chronic pasty manure as well as diarrhea) that cleared up after a couple weeks of a good probiotic supplement. I highly recommend Alltech's 4-way acid Pak, which is an acidifier that includes digestive enzymes probiotics and vitamin C.

Out of curiosity... what does the little guy's manure look like (runny/watery, sticky/pasty or textured as if not completely digested)? Is he showing any other signs of illness (such as lethargy, panting or respirating by opening his beak, lack of or excessive appetite)? What makes up the bulk of your chickens' diet?

I hope that it clears up soon!

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

I added ACV to the water at the first sign of pasty butt. I also used Epsom salt baths to remove the crusties. That seemed to do the trick. I just held them with their bottoms in the warm water with Epsom salt to soften it. It seems to sooth the irritated skin as well.

 

[SweetTea&Chicks]

I started to have a problem and someone recommended adding a splash of ACV to their water and BOOM! I got all of the poop off their butts first and since then I haven't had any problems. I've seen you can put a dab of Vaseline on their butt and that keeps it smooth and harder for poop to stick.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! If the brooder is too warm, that's an issue. Diet? Are the other chicks fine? Are you feeding medicated chick starter? If not, maybe have a fecal checked for coccidia. Probiotics may help, as Nutridrench.
Mary

 

[MsVexx]

Thank you all for your responses!

I’ve already got ACV, so today I just picked up some Chick Boost™ Probiotics (http://www.animalhealthsolutionsinc.com/products/117-chick-boost.aspx) and Durastat with Oregano (https://www.durvet.com/product/durastat-with-oregano/) and I’m about to hard-boil an egg for all of them. I also grabbed some non powdery gloves, Epsom salt, cotton balls, and Vaseline.

His manure looks kind of like white yogurt/tacky glue with just a hint of yellow, and it smells terrible (not that any of their poop smells rosy, lol.) He seems a little lethargic and generally uncomfy, kind of like a kid just starting to come down with a fever. No panting or unusual respiration and he seems to be eating and drinking ok. I currently have them all on unmedicated NatureWise Chick Starter Grower(https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/naturewise-chick-starter-grower-feed) with chick grit on the side and the room is around 80-85 degrees and all other chicks are fine.

I am about to clean him up and soak his tushie in some warm Epsom salt, then add a little Vasoline and dry him off with my blowdryer on medium, using a defuser. I will try to take a picture and upload it after.

 

[Melissacoop]

I am brand new to raising baby chicks but they advised me at the feed store to use the medicated chick starter. They told me to watch for pasty butts and that would indicate coccidiosis. Maybe you should switch to the medicated chick crumbles?

 

[MsVexx]

I've been reading up on some stuff called Frontline CORID 20% SOLUBLE POWDER, that's supposed to prevent/treat coccidiosis that I'm planning on ordering today so I will have it on hand. Have you guys heard of it?

 

[Folly's place]

If you feed chick starter with amprolium, it's much less likely that the babies will get sick from the coccidia. If your environment is too well endowed with coccidia, and you aren't feeding the medicated feed, and coccidiosis (sick chicks) develops, then the higher dose of amprolium is necessary. If you have a fecal checked at the veterinarian's, you will know.
Mary