pasty butt??

[madgabmomma]

I know I've heard of chicks getting pasty butt and I think one of my 6day old bantams might have it. I don't know a lot about chicken anatomy but he's got (what I assume is poo) stuck to his bum. It's not covering the top opening, but don't they have 2 different openings down there? One for eggs and one for deficating right? So I have used warm water on a wash cloth and it's really stuck hard on there. I don't want to tear it off and rip his skin off or anything but this stuff won't come off. Please help....

 

[rancher hicks]

No they only have one hole down there. As for the stuck poo this could or may not be pasty butt. You can just snip it off along with some fuzz and he/she will be fine.

 

[dbounds10]

They only have 1 vent, it is for everything. The best way I have found is to get a small bowl and fill with warm water. Set the little pasty butt in the water and soak for a couple mintues then wipe with a cloth. You may need to do this several times to get it all. AND - you cant be squimish, you may need to use your hands to work it out.

Make sure you blow dry her little bum completly (use a blowdryer on low) before putting her back. If she is all wet, the others will pick at her.

Good Luck!

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

This wont last forever. Only the first week or so. Just be sure you keep the vents clean. Chicks can die from this.

 

[rancher hicks]

One thing that does seem to help is to feed only chick starter and water. Stress can cause pasty butt but should clear up as they relax. Remember they are babies and stressing them poking and prodding is not a good thing. Be sure to let them sleep alot for the first couple of weeks. No sudden movements, try not to freak them out.

 

[Emmalion]

Also once clean dab on some olive oil so it helps keep the new poo from sticking.... I got this great advise here on BYC and it helped a ton with the one I had that got it.

 

[rosegal]

What I have just learned today! Make sure they aren't pecked after you clean their butts. I lost the two I washed last night because they were pecked to death by the others.

 

[Granny Hoffman]

Quote:
This is what I do also, just snip the dried poo away with a little of their fuzz and you only have to do it once. Once their feathers come in you can't even tell you snipped fuzz. Another thing that helps that I found is to grind their chick starter up in a coffee grinder to a finer grit. I did this for my last two hatches and only had 1 pasty butt in each hatch compared to all of the previous having pasty butt.

 

[madgabmomma]

Thanks everyone!! I did the soak in warm water and blow dry and everyone seems to be happy and doing good now. I just had one chick with this problem so hopefully the rest don't get it too.