poop on chick bums;)

[chixnewbie]

wondering about the hard poop on the bums... i am new at this.... i have 7, four day old chicks who are doing great (i think)... i noticed one is chirping quite loudly while trying to poop and had hard poop on bum... i washed this off with warm water.... what else should i know and do??
thanks for the help.

 

[Pairie Faring]

It's called pasty butt. keeping washing it off your babies otherwise it is fatal. You are doing good so far!

 

[chicmom]

Hello! Poo on the bums is often called "Pasty Butt". It is a bad thing for chicks because it plugs them up, and they can't poo and then they can die from that. So very smart of you to clean that off.

Now, I've heard this is caused by chicks being chilly, but I don't think that is proven.

Good job!

Sharon

 

[chixnewbie]

gotcha... pasty butt, huh....
thanks for the help... brooder is set for 95 and they are staying out of heat so i think they're warm....
so it's ok for me to wash it, i was afraid this would stress them...

should i change feed? or give then something to help avoid this...

thanks
C

 

[Pairie Faring]

The bathing is fine. Just make sure they are fairly dry before your put them back in. Chicks get cold easily. There is no real proven cause for pasty butt. Just happens. It should go away on its own. What are you feeding ?

 

[Kbagwell1]

I'm not 100% but I was told that plain yogurt would help with the pasty butt...I've given mine alittle twice a week and haven't had near as many problems with pasty butt lately!!

 

[chixnewbie]

thanks for all the help.... yogurt? how would you give this?
I am feeding them medicated starter chick....

 

[Dutchess]

Quote:
Just put it in a shallow dish or bowl and they'll eat it right up.
As for the pasty butt, as stated above, make sure you wash it off asap. I had one chick that had it and I was away for the day. That night when I returned the pasty butt was bad. I washed her up and just as soon as I removed the "plug" a BUNCH of poo came out, immediately. I think that was a close one!

Good luck and WELCOME to BYC!!

 

[chickensinwasillaAK]

Another trick I used to prevent future pasty but with mine that had it is take a q-tip and put some olive oil on it. GENTLY turn this around the vent area and get all those feathers covered with the oil, poop won't stick.

 

[stcroixusvi]

I am new too. Can they have yogurt without grit? And how exactly do you give them grit? We have some sand but I am hesitant to put it in the brooder.