Pasty butt

[aart]

I wish I could narrow down why I always end up with at least a few pasty ones. I hatch at home, I'm nearly positive my heat is just right (the chicks sit under it in the appropriate fashion, not huddled or avoiding it), I don't give them food until they've been in there with just water for a couple hours, I give plain water and chick starter. But I always get a few. I never offer grit though, so I'm thinking I may do that next and see if it makes a difference, since it's the only variable I haven't tried changing. Besides adding ACV to the water, which folks claim works but I refuse to do.

Same here...I just figure not all digestive systems are as functional as fast as others, one sticky poop is all it takes and some butts are fuzzier than others...or maybe the first poops are released when they are sitting so more likely to stick than fall away?

 

[Mosey2003]

Same here...I just figure not all digestive systems are as functional as fast as others, one sticky poop is all it takes and some butts are fuzzier than others...or maybe the first poops are released when they are sitting so more likely to stick than fall away?

Yeah, I'm kind of wondering if it isn't just "a thing" and that's that. If I were able to hatch enough numbers I would consider culling the pasties and seeing if I could breed it out, but nowhere near there yet. I'm gonna try the grit and see, anyway.

 

[RevRico]

Chick grit will arrive tomorrow, slipped my mind at Rural King yesterday.

I tried a warm paper towel last night, while wearing gloves, and it worked ok. The one Brahman chick seems to be the worst of it. I watched it last night standing there pushing and trying for a minute, and it seemed like the poop just stopped halfway out. They all look better now but I'm going to keep an eye on them just the same.

 

[Over_Easy47]

Warm oil on a cotton ball is perfect, just get it soaked and gently press against baby chicks bottom and it will fall right off!

 

[Mosey2003]

It would be nice if grit is the secret. I remember reading somewhere that chick feed had grit in it, but I can't find it on any tags.

 

[aart]

just get it soaked and gently press against baby chicks bottom and it will fall right off!

Huh, have rarely had it 'fall right off'.....usually takes some time soaking to get it off if it has dried in the least.

It would be nice if grit is the secret. I remember reading somewhere that chick feed had grit in it, but I can't find it on any tags.

Someone claimed that in a recent thread(s), but I believe the only starter that has grit is the cracked grain kind.
I have my doubts that grit will completely, if at all, prevent pasty butt....would be good to get their gizzard muscling up tho.

 

[Mosey2003]

Yeah, I have my doubts too, but can at least cross it off the list.

I've also read feeding corn meal alone the first day will prevent it, but I can't imagine why it would. I'm not really keen to try that, I'd rather they have good nutrition from the get-go.

 

[Hayden Farms]

My chicks are anywhere from 1 week - 10 days old and everytime I turn around another 1 has a pasty butt! I run their bottom under warm running water at my kitchen faucet (I bleach the sink after). I add a little vaseline under the vent to help prevent anymore pasty butt. I had 1 chick that had a lump so big (out of 22 bitties,I must of missed him ) & it took 5 solid minutes + gently rubbing to remove it! We've had crazy temperature changes in the last 2 weeks however all of them seemed quiet, eating drinking and very active but are still getting dirty bottoms. I put ACV in their water, I've given them probiotic & electrolyte water +fresh water to choose from. They all came from TS so I'm grateful for as healthy as they've been so far. I've only given Purina chick crumbles no medicated feed, is that okay?

 

[Mosey2003]

My chicks are anywhere from 1 week - 10 days old and everytime I turn around another 1 has a pasty butt! I run their bottom under warm running water at my kitchen faucet (I bleach the sink after). I add a little vaseline under the vent to help prevent anymore pasty butt. I had 1 chick that had a lump so big (out of 22 bitties,I must of missed him ) & it took 5 solid minutes + gently rubbing to remove it! We've had crazy temperature changes in the last 2 weeks however all of them seemed quiet, eating drinking and very active but are still getting dirty bottoms. I put ACV in their water, I've given them probiotic & electrolyte water +fresh water to choose from. They all came from TS so I'm grateful for as healthy as they've been so far. I've only given Purina chick crumbles no medicated feed, is that okay?

If they're all getting it, I'd look at your heat. How are they, clustered together under the lamp? Spread out as far as they can get from it?

 

[Hayden Farms]

If they're all getting it, I'd look at your heat. How are they, clustered together under the lamp? Spread out as far as they can get from it?

They are spread out evenly and very active when awake. No distress chirping just common tweets...