Okay, I'll admit it...I'm a lurker! Been lurking for a few weeks, reading, reading, and more reading. I finally registered the other day, and I have my first question for y'all! I got some assorted chicks a few weeks ago, everybody is doing great (I did lose one, the same day I got them), but I've had a couple of incidents of pasty butt. I get them cleaned up and everything, and the fellow at the feed store said to put a few grains of oatmeal in with their chick crumbles, for added fiber. I'm not having too much trouble, but I have a little silkie who just can't shake this...how long can I expect it to last before s/he "grows out of it"?
Hi, My experience is to just keep the chicks clean. You may have to clip some fuzz from the behind, be carefull. The'll grow out of it quickly. I've never had it stay around for more than a few days at most. I don't know if the diet makes any difference, except that they need to get use to eating food.
a little baby powder on the bum can help also -- it keeps poo from sticking - fuzzy butts are hard to keep clean
Awww...baby powder!! lol I will try anything I can to get rid of this..it seems better than it was, so maybe it is going away. Thanks, y'all!
I found it to be a worse problem with silkies myself. I don't know if that is typical though, or just my experience. They do grow out of it - just be sure to check every day or two and make sure the vent is not blocked.
I have one cochin girl that gets the worst of poopie butts. I finally trimmed her tail feathers and she looks a lot better and seems happier. She didn't fuss at all while I was trimming her. Jacie
If you add a tsp or two of organic unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar to a quart waterer, that seems to help the pasty butts. I have rarely had problems with it, but when I do, I add the ACV immediately.
Anyone have any pictures of actual pasty butt. I can't determine if mine just have dirty fuzz in the area of the butt and if thats normal or if its actual pasty butt. John
I am currently having this issue with my full grown silkies. I emailed the online chicken Dr. Peter Brown and he told me to put 1/2 t. copper sulfate to a gallon water. Today is my first day. I will try to let you know how that goes too. I like the sound of the apple cider vinigar too.
John, pasty butt will actually block them up so they cannot poop. It isn't just a little poop in their fluff, but a buildup of poop that must be removed or they will die.