I had seven chicks born this past Saturday night. I am new to chickens. I noticed two tonight had poop stuck to them. I read the forums and did the suggestions and ended up soaking their bottoms in warm water and cleaning them off and then I applied olive oil to their bottoms to help them hopefully go easier. I read you can also add oatmeal to their food. I have instant oatmeal but it is maple sugar flavored and I didn't think that would be good for them. I also have a can of plain steel cut oats. Would that work? Do I just sprinkle it on their food? Thanks!
I've never used oatmeal, especially for chicks that young. I just put a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in their quart waterer each day and no more messy butts. Been doing that for years and pasty butt here is unheard of. Edited to add: This is the raw, unfiltered ACV you would find in the health food section of your grocery store, label needs to say "with the mother". Bragg's is a common brand.
X 2 and make sure you add the apple cider vinegar in plastic waterer and not in the galvanized ones because it will rust overtime.
My hatchery advised me to give my babies electrolytes daily to prevent this condition. I did as they recommended and didn't have any problems with pasty butt. I still give my pullets the same mixture but now only once a week.
