Poopy butt vs Pasty butt

[arlee453]

Well, my little silkies have found the food and so the poop fun has begun!

Their little bottoms are so fuzzy that the poo seems to be sticking more than I remember as compared to my standard chicks.

At what point does poopy butt become pasty butt, requiring cleaning to prevent problems? Or should I just go ahead and clean all 10 little chicky butts?

 

[arlee453]

I like typing the word 'poo' so much I'm giving my poo thread a bum...p. Pun intended..

 

[silkiechicken]

They are pretty much the same really, as any poo stuck to their bums can very quickly esclate and plug them up. I say clean it up and trim down the fuzz.

 

[hinkjc]

In addition, check the heat to make sure it's not too hot or too cold for them. That is usually the cause, altho some are just more prone to it until their digestive system kicks in better.

Jody

 

[arlee453]

Thanks for the responses. I took a look at their bums and I have to say I feel sort of silly...

I wasn't thinking about the fact that silkies have black skin. What I thought was caked poo was in most cases just their little vents shining black through their fuzz. Whew! (and duh...)

I did have 3 that did have a bit of the crusties and I went ahead and cleaned that off although I don't think it was to a bad point yet at all... better safe than sorry though.

They really weren't too happy about the inspection process though! Don would say their evil side was coming out!

 

[edster951]

I have one chick that gets a poopy butt,....

I get one of the boys to each in a get it, and I dampen the butt down, then wash off the poop. Have to do it once a week.....she's not too bad this week though.

 

[CluckCluck18]

I was wondering if certain breeds are more prone to pasty butt. I've been hatching eggs ......lost 4 Araucanas to pasty butt and just hatched 2 more and on day 4, another one dead! In the mean time have hatched BCM's and Cornish and they are all fine. They all got the same treatment.....pine shavings covered with paper towels, Probios in the food, ACV and Polyvisol in the water and play sand for grit. I'm starting to see why these chickens are so rare and so expensive. We just want to get one little blue egg layer......

 

[Tilly's Nest]

Silkies are prone to pasty butts. Moistening the poop with warm water on a paper towel and then loosening the poop by massaging it in your hands seems best. Put a little neosporin on the vent when you are done. Glad to hear it was just their vents but just in case....

 

[Pele]

Yep, I second giving the worst offenders a brazillian buzz to reduce the chances of developing pasty butt.

If they develop it anyway, you can fill the sink with warm water, and lower the chick's butt into it. After a couple of minutes soaking, you should be able to rub the chick clean with a washcloth, then wrap them up for snuggles in a towell until they dry.

I have noticed certain breeds paste up more than others. Every single barred cochin I've ever raised has been just impossible about it

. I have NO idea what they're doing when I'm not looking.