Poop Buildup on chicks, but not blockage

[The Laird]

I have some chick that aren't quite 2 weeks old yet. I was just down to see them after work. They are all active and look fine, but some have a lot of poop built up on their rears. They are very skittish, but I managed to get hold of one of the worst. The vent is clear, but the poop is stuck to the skin quite firmly. It could be a chore to get them all cleaned up. My questions are: As long is the vent is clear, is it harmful? and Will their feathers push it off when they come in? Thanks.

 

[keljonma]

That is pasty butt. The droppings stick to the vent area and harden up, preventing the chick from eliminating and can be fatal.

Check the chicks for pasty butt daily. If you see they are pasty, clean off the vent area with some warm water and a cloth. Don't get them too wet.

If it's real bad, you can run warm water over their butts and then towel dry them and then blow dry them with a hair dryer on cool or lowest setting possible.

If you leave the droppings stuck to the chicks, the others are going to pick on them and then you'll have a worse situation on your hands. Better, I think, to just clean the birds. They'll be healthier for it.

 

[Wes in Tx]

To help clean the little butts spritz or coat the area with veggie oil. That will help disolve the poop. Now to stop the problem start feeding some active culture yogurt to the daily to help stabilize the gut flora.

 

[The Laird]

Got them cleaned up this morning, about 6 of them. I don't think any of them were truly blocked, just poop stuck to the skin and wee fuzz below the vent. I used warm water and a washcloth, which helped, but I still had to pull a little bit. They didn't like that! Must be like pulling off a bandage. That was just to get off the last little bit. So, they are better now, but I don't think that I endeared myself to them any. Thanks for the advice.

 

[SpottedCrow]

You can trim the bum fuzz too...

 

[Pegg Sue]

That is pasty butt. The droppings stick to the vent area and harden up, preventing the chick from eliminating and can be fatal.

Check the chicks for pasty butt daily. If you see they are pasty, clean off the vent area with some warm water and a cloth. Don't get them too wet.

If it's real bad, you can run warm water over their butts and then towel dry them and then blow dry them with a hair dryer on cool or lowest setting possible.

If you leave the droppings stuck to the chicks, the others are going to pick on them and then you'll have a worse situation on your hands. Better, I think, to just clean the birds. They'll be healthier for it.

Thanks! I shall do this right now and hope she lives a long healthy life

 

[Dara T]

I have some chick that aren't quite 2 weeks old yet. I was just down to see them after work. They are all active and look fine, but some have a lot of poop built up on their rears. They are very skittish, but I managed to get hold of one of the worst. The vent is clear, but the poop is stuck to the skin quite firmly. It could be a chore to get them all cleaned up. My questions are: As long is the vent is clear, is it harmful? and Will their feathers push it off when they come in? Thanks.

Thanks! I shall do this right now and hope she lives a long healthy life

I dripped warm water from a wash cloth to soften the old poop. Once it was softened I was able to gently rub off...