Pasty butt concerns...

[AccioSarah]

I'm a new momma to four beautiful babies (2 Rhode Islands, 2 Plymouths), and I just adore them all!

My current concern is pasty butt... They all have some level of it, but none have covered their 'vent' up yet.
Even if the vent is not covered, does it have to be cleaned? I worry about them being afraid of me, because after I clean them they seem absolutely terrified.

Is there anything more I can do to combat pasty butt? and what works best to clean it?

Also- a big question I hope to get answered on this subject...
Will it go away after they loose their down??

 

[Firemenlovechicks]

Quote:
Well, If someone picked you up, turned you over, and yanked the pasty poop from your fuzzy butt, wouldn't YOU be terrified of THEM?? LOL

Seems with my first few batches (still fairly new to this) that they seem to get over it once they have a few days to adjust to their brooder and get over the stress from shipping. In the meantime, be VERY gentle, try using wet paper towels to soften the poop before removing it, a small amount of baby oil on the chick's rear seems to help as well as maybe trimming the feathers "back there" so the poop doesn't have anything to stick to. Good luck!

Jeff

 

[tammyd57]

All good advice from Firemenlovechicks. I just wanted to add that pasty butt usually only lasts for a few days to a week or two. It should clear up well before they lose all their fuzz. I've read that sprinkling grit over their food will clear it up. I haven't tried that as it seems to work in the same amount of time it would stop all by itself.

 

[Kmf]

I found that using a wet cotton ball works great! It holds more water and is softer than paper towel. Got the job done in less time which made for happier chickies!

 

[AZ Heat]

Pasty butt is no fun. I've found that a washcloth soaked in warm water (running water to constantly rinse and wet) works well. If its pasted on there good, it takes time and patience to get it cleaned up. After you're done, use a hair dryer on warm (not hot or cold) and blow dry that back side. You may need to stop many times to use your fingers to "fluff" the feathers that clump together, then blow dry some more.

Watch the ones that have a mess under their vent, but not covering their vents. Sometimes it accumulates and ends up covering them. For the ones that don't get covered, I leave them alone and wait for a few days and it eventually cleans itself up. If not, you may need to take them to your "chicken butt salon"...

 

[pattgal]

does anyone have pics of what that would look like? i have a few that are a bit dirty from tipping their water but im not sure if i should just leave them alone or start washing. they are so nervous im afraid that will be the end of them