Pasty butt?

[mistressangyl]

What is pasty butt and how do you fix it?

What other ills should I look out for with my babies?

 

[Judy]

It's poop stuck to their bottom, where it can dry, and actually block elimination if not removed. Soak it off (I hold their back end under a stream of warm tap water) and apply most any oil or lubricant to their bottom after they are cleaned so the next one won't stick so bad. Vaseline or a little cooking oil,, for example.

It can happen easily if they get too warm, or don't have access to water for a while. It can be a result of shipping stress. Sometimes chicks kick so many pine shavings into a waterer that they in effect don't have water for a while. This is why many put waterers up on a brick or something similar.

You can try adding a little oatmeal to their feed, or a little molasses to their water.

Our Learning Center at the top of the page has lots of articles for beginners, if you haven't looked it over. But feel free to ask questions, too!