Pasty Butt Advice ?!

[junebuggena]

View attachment 1306794 View attachment 1306793 Hello,

My chicks are 3 days old. On day 2, some of them started developing pasty butt. I’ve been cleaning off with water and have applied olive oil once. While their little holes are cleaned and their is no poop blockage, the feathers around their bottom are gross. The feathers are no longer soft but are firm to the touch and are stuck together. Like I said, their holes are cleared, it’s just the surrounding feathers that have gunked up and hardened. I have soaked and gently rubbed and can not get it cleaned. At this point blockage isn’t an issue, I just can’t get the feathers uncrusted. Is this normal? Does anyone have any advice for me on how to get the crusted feathers cleaned? Please view the pictures I have posted.

Pasty butt is most commonly caused by a brooder that is too warm. You need to remember that the chicks need to be able to cool off when needed. That means only a very small area needs to be heated, with the rest of the brooder being as close to room temp as possible. If brooding inside your home, a full strength heat bulb is going to be way too much. A lower wattage incandescent bulb would be better.