Pasty butt?

[redwing76]

I see you all talking about "pasty butt". What exactly is that? I've got one chick here whose butt I absolutely can't keep clean. We picked up our chicks about 6 days ago from TSC and once came with a crusty poopy butt. I cleaned it off by dunking it's bum in warm water and working the poop off with a warm, wet washcloth. Afterward, her butt was clean but bald... She still gets a poopy butt everyday and each day I have to check to make sure her vent isn't sealed by poop. She's eating and drinking fine with the rest of them and plays well too. She poops just fine like the rest of them it just seems like maybe her butt is a tad too big and catches the poo? Or she doesn't have a strong enough backside to shoot the poop out like the others...I don't know?...

Also her little vent is always twitching. Is this normal? Maybe the others do this but I just can't see it because they're still fuzzy butts and her poor backside just happens to be bald. Is this what you would call "pasty butt" and do I need to be concerned? This is all new to me...this is only day 6 of of our Great Chicken Adventure. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

~Red

 

[Kittymomma]

That's pasty butt and you're doing a good job taking care of it. She should outgrow it pretty soon, in the meantime you can put a little olive oil on her bum to make clean up easier.

 

[Mrs.H]

Im having the same problem with one of my TSC chicks, eating, pooping fine, but hard to keep clean. Ive read so many posts on here with all dif. things you should do. Ive just been trying my best to keep it clean but still cant get it all off. I like the olive oil idea, I will need to try that. Good luck with yours!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Most chicks wont get it but the few that do need to be cleaned off with warm water (I run their bum right under running water while I take a gloved hand and swish it and rinse it off) then dry and olive oil to the vent area. They grow out of it in a couple weeks but keep reapplying the olive oil every night

 

[esthermgr]

I'm glad to hear about the olive oil and the running warm water. I had an epic battle with a pasty butt this morning. I almost thought the poo would win!

 

[nanawendy]

They will learn to shake their bootie soon. Keeping on top of pasty butts will keep your babies alive. Glad to hear about the Olive oil, I'm getting another batch soon and will use that.
I also heard on BYC that if it's too hot in the brooder that could lead to more pasty butts... start @ 95 and lose 5 degrees weekly after 2 weeks . I think that's right~ Experts chime in!!!!

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

At six days old you should start giving them some baby chick grit or a bit of sand. Sprinkle on their food like you would if you were salting your own food. Not too much since they will fill up on grit and not good food. Once you do the grit the pasty butt will go away within a day or two.

 

[DiVon80]

Add some parakeet,canary or finch gravel to their food. It will go away.

 

[trilyn]

You can also use the organic apple cider vinegar, has to be organic. Works like a charm for me, 1 capful in a quart water bottle. Good luck to you!!

 

[Country Cluck]

I was told by someone who raises chickens for 40+ years that if this occurs a lot then you can put some corn meal on top of their food. It's not a filler like grit, but is just sharp enough to help grind down the food and make it more digestable. Also a little bit of yogurt or cooked eggs for those babies that are having the most trouble. The best way to get the poo off is like previously stated, running their bottoms under warm water while gently wipping. Make sure the butt end is pointed away from you though.