Pasty Butt follow-up

[linkedsilas]

I would not give them distilled water. Distilled water has everything that has been taken away from it. Animals need those minerals that are in the water because not having it will deplete them and they cant really gain it back. I know this is true of humans and amphibians so I am going to assume it is the same for chickens.

 

[chicksdontmeow]

I would not give them distilled water. Distilled water has everything that has been taken away from it. Animals need those minerals that are in the water because not having it will deplete them and they cant really gain it back. I know this is true of humans and amphibians so I am going to assume it is the same for chickens.

Ahh okay! I haven't been giving it to them very long. I'll be switching to normal tap water the next time I refill their waterer. The water I gave them when I first got them was distilled mixed with 1/4 tsp Vi-tal powder, so it was pretty much like giving them normal water. At least I think so? They seem to be doing well enough for now, so I'll just have to see how it goes.

 

[RoseMary12]

I'm new to the whole Mother Hen thing. White Rock chick has pasty butt pretty badly, but her vent isn't clogged up. Will the poop sticking to her feathers do any damage? Should I get it off? Or should I feed the chick yogurt, like one of you guys said? She's about a week old, if that helps.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm new to the whole Mother Hen thing. White Rock chick has pasty butt pretty badly, but her vent isn't clogged up. Will the poop sticking to her feathers do any damage? Should I get it off? Or should I feed the chick yogurt, like one of you guys said? She's about a week old, if that helps.

Soak her little bum in some warm water and gently removed as much poo as you can. You can apply a little vaseline or oil to help keep it from sticking so much.
Feed chick starter, keep water fresh, have just one warm area in the brooder and let the rest be cool.
While having a little poo stuck to bum down or feathers is not necessarily detrimental, too much accumulation "could" cause some irritation, redness, etc., so it's best when you can to get them cleaned up.

 

[RoseMary12]

This is really helpful! thanks!!