pasty butt is a pain in the butt, have questions

[rnmommy7]

So I check these butts every day, 96 butts (we lost 4 chicks). Many of the chicks have poop on the back of their butt, but when I look at the butt the dried poop is not closing up the opening. Hindsight, I would have put vaseline on all of their butts as I unpacked them into the brooder, is that a bad idea? Do I have to clean all these butts, I can't get the poop unstuck, the chick ends up wet, and I know if I pull and make it bleed, the others will peck at it. What do I do?

I have been giving them Bragg's ACV in the water, yogurt, and scrambled eggs, along with the feed.

 

[arizonarancher]

I had one EE chick with pasty butt and she allowed me to run her butt under the sink. I made sure the water was warm and held my finger over the chick so I felt the water as I was rinsing her to make sure it wasn't too hot. Then I kept her separate under a lamp alone and she dried in about an hour. Then she was put back with the others with no problem. Sometimes the running water helps gently take the poo off that you can't otherwise by hand. Hope that helps a little, I'm a newbie but the chick is alive and no more pasty butt.

 

[redsoxs]

Sorry to hear about the pasty butt problems. I've had that with a couple of chicks and I always just held their little rear ends in dish of luke warm water for a few minutes until it loosened up and things started functioning normally. BTW - love your reference to "hindsight!"

Good luck to you!

 

[Agafan]

I got 16 new chicks yesterday. Today I had to clean pasty butts off 13 of them! I am new to this too so I was praying I was doing it right based on things I've read. I put on surgical gloves then ran each one of their butts under warm running water until it loosened up enough for me to dislodge it between my fingers and wash it down the drain. Then I put vasoline all around their butt hole and feathers. They now all look like they have monkey butts! In fact some of the other chicks pecked at the others butts and I had to fuss at them and intervene like a stern chicken momma. After I had done them all one of my RIR laid on her side with feet outstretched head flat out in a horrible death position.. I thought I'd traumatized her, done something wrong and subsequently killed her. But she was breathing do I reached down to pick her up and as soon as I touched her she jumped up and ran away! Was absolutely fine after that. I think I shocked her like I had the paddles of life in my fingers! All of them are ok so far. Except they have picked at their little down preening trying to get it to fluff again .. Although impossible because of the vasoline making it sticky looking. Hope they continue to thrive!

 

[spotsplus]

I found using a bowl of warm water and a Q-tip works well. It takes about half a minute to a minute for the poop to loosen up and come off. The chicks don't seem to mind at all. I don't use vaseline as I would think that bedding would stick to it.

 

[Agafan]

Well, phew, I must've done it right BC all 16 are doing great and no more PB! yeah but keeping close watch just in case.
Yes occasionally a pine shaving will stick to one's butt, but it falls off as soon as she get up and runs off. Do not to worry about that. I think it's a good insurance policy. Worked so far for my peeps.

 

[clairebear]

Never used vaseline but I can see how bedding might stick to it. Just a warm wet paper towel to soften and then I just remove it, fast if it's not loosening well. Water that's too cool seems to make it worse so I try to let their drinking water warm up to at least room temp before giving it to the young chicks. I also add a little acv. Haven't had any pasty butt since beginning to hatch my own chicks but shipped chicks can get it bad though for sure. Good luck with them!

 

[lcammack]

Some people say them temp is to high if they are getting it a lot, I have also heard of people just trimming off the butt fuzz with scissors so that they don't have anything for the poop to stick to. I also have had no pasty butt with our home hatched chicks. It has always been the shipped or store bought ones that get it. Good luck!

 

[aaajjss1]

soak a cotton ball in warm water and then put a little hydrogen peroxide on it , hold to poo for about a min then it should come of easily, add a bit of fine grit to the food and lower the heat a tiny bit, most of them will not get it again but some will one or two more times. If you are using mash that's good, if you are using crumbles, grind it in the blender for the first week , good luck

 

[R.M.Qureshi]

Hi,

Use three to four drops of Carboveg 30 or IPEAC 30 in 200 ml drinking water for chicks. Its a homeopathic remedy for pasted vents.

By the way i practice homeopathy for poultry. You are welcome to contact me through email any time.

[email protected]

Regards
RM