Pasty Butts, am I doing this right?

[kidd42]

Ok, I had to put one chick down last might due to complications. I was very focused on the one, this morning I noticed that about half the chicks (12 out of 23) have pasty butt. They seem to be doing fine, but I need to get their little butts cleaned up, so I took the day off from work to take care of this. I don't know how much is actually pasty butt or just poo stuck their tail fluff, but better safe then sorry. Some of it looks irritated and red. Anyhow I have Mineral oil slathered on the dried poo hopeing that this helps with the softening, and will start trying to get it off with warm water in a bit. I have given them all weak molasses tea in their waterer. I also started them on chik grit on Tuesday. I didn't mentioned that they are 5 day's old, Hatched last Friday evening and shipped from McMurrey hatchery, we took delivery Sunday morning. How long do I give them the weak molasses tea? When cleaning with the water do I wipe or just sort of let it dissolve into the wet paper towel?
Any advice would be appreciated, as we are newbies and this is our first go at it. I will say that after having to put the one down last night I was ready to throw in the towel on raising chickens, that was very hard to do.

Thank you,

Kevin

 

[Lollipop]

Kidd, sounds like you`re doing everything right. As for cleaning their butts, rub it, pat it, whatever it takes. Some degree of mortality is normal with any farm animal. I`ve been doing this 51 years and still feel sad when I have to cull one. Just tell yourself it`s for the good of the bird and the flock. Main thing is to consentrate on the good things and have fun.

 

[kidd42]

Thank You Lollipop. I found a posting from awhile back. I am putting their little behinds under warm running water from the sink and working at removing it. They protest at first but seem to settle in. Then I dry them off and put them under the heat lamp.
I have to remember to search the past post's to see if the answer to my question's are there. I guess we (wife and I) just sorta panic when something happens. I'm sure over time we will not be so panicy. we are having fun with the new babies.

Thank You again,

Kevin

 

[mypicklebird]

what are you feeding them? are they eating? what is the temp in your brooder?

 

[kidd42]

I am feeding them Start to finish chick starter, they have chick grit. Yes they are eating and drinking. I'm keeping the temp at 95 under the lamp and they have plenty of room to get away from the heat if they need to, brooder is 4'X4' and the lowest temp in the brooder is 80 at the far end . As of bedtime for the girls, nobody had any issue's with pasty butt tonight. I did get everybody cleaned up this morning.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post!!!!!!!!!

More people should read this.

Jim

 

[ruth]

Molasses or sugar water should only be given the first day shipped chicks arrive. After that, too much sugar/molasses will give them "the runs" or diarrhea. Stop with the molasses water and add some vitamin/electrolytes to their water for a couple of days.

Clean dried, caked-on poop with warm running water as you are doing. It helps to dry their wet butts off with a blow dryer before putting them back in brooder or the others seem fascinated by the wet, red bare butts and start to peck at them.

 

[Missoula Chicken Lady]

I climb into my brooders with a mason jar full of warm water, a soft toddler toothbrush and a few paper towels. I use the toothbrush to thoroughly wet the vent area, and then brush gently down and away from the vent. It is much easier to wiggle off the poo clumps with the paper towels - many of them simply drop off as you brush. A little buffing with the paper towel and voila. The blow drier mentioned by some other folks on here might be a good idea though to reduce pecking by other chicks.

 

[kidd42]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and advice. After two weeks, I've learned to calm down with what is going on with the girls. The butts are clean, and staying that way with a little help from me at times. So glad there are so many willing to help out on this site.

Thanks to all!

Kevin