Poopy Butts

[Corgigirl51]

We have six new buff Orpington chicks. I noticed this evening that they all have a little poop stuck on their butts, but no sign of blood or diarrhea. We just added additional shaving to their box last night - could it just be that the shaving are too deep? I took a warm damp cloth and cleaned most of it off so as to not allow caking that could eventually lead to a blockage. Any ideas or advice?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

It’s probably too hot in the brooder.

 

[21hens-incharge]

How old are the chicks?
What is the brooder set up? (A picture really helps here)
What feed are you using?
How long have you had the chicks?
Where did you get them?

By the way!

 

[Corgigirl51]

It’s probably too hot in the brooder.

Wow, OK. They are just in a cardboard box with a regular light, not a heat lamp, but I'll try letting them go without the light tomorrow. Gotta' love wildlife biologists - I work with a few!

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Wow, OK. They are just in a cardboard box with a regular light, not a heat lamp, but I'll try letting them go without the light tomorrow. Gotta' love wildlife biologists - I work with a few!

Yeah poopy butt is usually caused by excessive heat but the questions @21hens-incharge asked are pertinent as well.

 

[Corgigirl51]

How old are the chicks?
What is the brooder set up? (A picture really helps here)
What feed are you using?
How long have you had the chicks?
Where did you get them?

By the way!

We got the chicks from a reputable farm store last Saturday. The chicks are probably 2-3 weeks old. They are in a cardboard box for the time being with shavings for bedding. They don't have a heat lamp, just a 40 watt bulb about 8 inches above them. They are on medicated chick starter.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We got the chicks from a reputable farm store last Saturday. The chicks are probably 2-3 weeks old. They are in a cardboard box for the time being with shavings for bedding. They don't have a heat lamp, just a 40 watt bulb about 8 inches above them. They are on medicated chick starter.

At 2 to 3 weeka old they should be past pasty butt stage.
What was the set up like in the store?
Are you feeding the same feed the store was?
Are you brooding inside or out?
Can they get 100% away from the heat if they get to warm....ie.....only one end of the brooder is heated?
If brooding outside what have been your temps there?

 

[Feathered_Texans]

Pictures will help, sometimes people think they are weeks old when they are only 2-3 days old.

 

[Corgigirl51]

At 2 to 3 wee la they should be past pasty butt stage.
What was the set up like in the store?
Are you feeding the same feed the store was?
Are you brooding inside or out?
Can they get 100% away from the heat if they get to warm....ie.....only one end of the brooder is heated?
If brooding outside what have been your temps there?

 

[Corgigirl51]

No pictures today but I think I have a clue. I will enlarge their area tomorrow so they can fully get away from the heat of the lamp. I turned the lamp off after reading A fowl guy's reply and while they are talking more, they are also actively feeding more, so heat might have been the issue. They are inside right now so I might just cover the box tonight and forego the light. Thanks everyone!