Pasty Butt Discovered Too Late??

[chicksheb]

hi.
I just want to say before since I did not check sooner: this is my first time doing chicks without parents help!! I did not know to check because we have never had this issue before.
I picked up chicks from tractor supply on Thursday. one of the chicks would sit and chirp a LOT. I check on them multiple times a day but this morning I noticed she wasnt really moving and knew something was wrong so i picked her up and noticed she had a lot of poop stuck to her bottom. we wiped it off and she pooped a LOT and we quickly put her back once we got her cleaned off, but she is very weak. she walks but not much and its mainly to get closer to the other chicks while they huddle up. will she be okay? am I too late? is there anything else I can/need to do?
tldr: I think I caught a case of pasty butt too late. is there ANYTHING I can do to help my chick?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Use sav-a-chick or some warm Gatorade and get those electrolytes in it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Nothing you can do but keep it's bottom clean.

 

[chicksheb]

Use sav-a-chick or some warm Gatorade and get those electrolytes in it.

ok, I have some Gatorade in the fridge so I'll give her a little bit

 

[chicksheb]

update: I just checked on them again for the night and gave her a little Gatorade. I made a 2 part Gatorade 1 part water solution and gave her a little of that around dinner time and gave her a little bit of pure Gatorade just now. I am weary of giving her too much. i also added a little bit, maybe a cap full, to the water dish just in case. I checked the other chicks bottoms and they are all okay and I wiped her bottom again and took a qtip with a teenie weenie bit of olive oil on it and wiped her bottom with that as well. I haven't noticed her eat or drink, but I know she has at least drank what i have given to her. i am still worried because while she is moving around more than she was before, she still stands in one spot and just keeps chirping and chirping and I am unsure of what to do with that. I also notice her little bottom...looks like she is flexing her bottom?? i haven't seen her lay down either, just stand. I guess all I can do at this point is just hope that she will get some rest tonight and feel better tomorrow. I already loved all my chicks a lot but taking care of her so much has really been a bonding experience for me and her and I really hope she can pull through.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

update: I just checked on them again for the night and gave her a little Gatorade. I made a 2 part Gatorade 1 part water solution and gave her a little of that around dinner time and gave her a little bit of pure Gatorade just now. I am weary of giving her too much. i also added a little bit, maybe a cap full, to the water dish just in case. I checked the other chicks bottoms and they are all okay and I wiped her bottom again and took a qtip with a teenie weenie bit of olive oil on it and wiped her bottom with that as well. I haven't noticed her eat or drink, but I know she has at least drank what i have given to her. i am still worried because while she is moving around more than she was before, she still stands in one spot and just keeps chirping and chirping and I am unsure of what to do with that. I also notice her little bottom...looks like she is flexing her bottom?? i haven't seen her lay down either, just stand. I guess all I can do at this point is just hope that she will get some rest tonight and feel better tomorrow. I already loved all my chicks a lot but taking care of her so much has really been a bonding experience for me and her and I really hope she can pull through.

I have no chicken or chicks, but i feel with you! It took my ducklings just a few moments to capture my heart… Bear Hugs! And crossing fingers!

 

[CindyinSD]

You said something about the chicks huddling together... are you certain they’re warm enough? They huddle together because they’re cold... not good. If your sick baby is also cold, it’s going to be hard for her to feel better.

Since you say she did poop quite a lot after you cleaned her, I guess I’d just keep an eye on her little backside, make sure she’s warm enough, and that she’s drinking. Make sure you watch the others, too.

You could try adding a Tbsp or two of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar and dissolve a Tbsp of sugar (for energy & to make it yummy) in a quart of water. All the babies can drink this in their waterer. It’s easier that way and it might even help them all. Some people also add a clove of crushed or grated garlic to the water.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

You said something about the chicks huddling together... are you certain they’re warm enough? They huddle together because they’re cold... not good. If your sick baby is also cold, it’s going to be hard for her to feel better.

Since you say she did poop quite a lot after you cleaned her, I guess I’d just keep an eye on her little backside, make sure she’s warm enough, and that she’s drinking. Make sure you watch the others, too.

You could try adding a Tbsp or two of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar and dissolve a Tbsp of sugar (for energy & to make it yummy) in a quart of water. All the babies can drink this in their waterer. It’s easier that way and it might even help them all. Some people also add a clove of crushed or grated garlic to the water.

I just learned something new! So chicks won't huddle together if they won't feel cold?
That's a big difference to ducklings: They always pile up! I was more worried about them to overheat than getting too cold…

 

[CindyinSD]

That’s interesting to know about ducklings. I’ve never had them but I may try, so it’s good to know that.

And yes, chicks huddle to stay warm. If the brooder is comfy for them, they scatter all around and make cute little murmuring sounds. I think it’s melodic—so sweet. If they’re too hot, they spread out as far from the heat as they can get. I use a heat plate (infra-red brooding panel), so there’s only room light. They’re quiet all night (since it’s dark) and softly cheeping in the day so long as they’re happy.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

That’s interesting to know about ducklings. I’ve never had them but I may try, so it’s good to know that.

And yes, chicks huddle to stay warm. If the brooder is comfy for them, they scatter all around and make cute little murmuring sounds. I think it’s melodic—so sweet. If they’re too hot, they spread out as far from the heat as they can get. I use a heat plate (infra-red brooding panel), so there’s only room light. They’re quiet all night (since it’s dark) and softly cheeping in the day so long as they’re happy.

For that exact reason i used, what i call a "Momma Heat Cave" for my Spring ducklings this year. The same effect: They were sleeping comfortably and made happy-ducklings sounds all night during which they were able to sleep because it was dark…
Even today as younglings they sleep together in a carpet-like formation, just some larger holes in the carpet…