Sick keet.. Has a pasty butt..

[PhilH]

My keets are 5 days old today. I changed their food from a chick starter to a turkey starter last night. I noticed two small spots of diarrhea on the paper towels last night. Now today one of the keets has a pasty butt. Could this be caused by the change in diet? If so, do I just clean it up with a wet towel & hope it doesn't reappear or do I need to do something more special?

Any help would be appreciated as we have already lost one keet out of 10 purchased..

Thanks

Phil

P.S. Sorry to be such a bother..

 

[PhilH]

Here is a couple of pics of the problem. She is eating & drinking just fine & is running around with the other keets..



Can't believe I cleaned the tub out last night & replaced the paper towels..

Here is a close up..



I hope this helps to explain the problem..

Phil

 

[PeepsCA]

Yes, a quick change in their diet can give them the squirts, but usually not pasty butt in my experience with keets. It's best to soak it off with a warm wet paper towel or cotton swab, and then you may want to dab a little veggie or mineral oil around it's vent area to prevent the poop from from sticking so badly and making clean up easier... you may have to keep cleaning the keet up for a few more days. If it's vent area is protruding and really red after the poop is cleaned off then a little Prep H &H may help... or at least some plain Neosporin. If you see the other keets pecking at it, you may need to wire off a section in the brooder for that keet for a while til the problem clears up.

Make sure their brooder temp is 90 degrees (measured on the brooder floor, directly under the glow) at just one end, you want them to be able to get away from the heat if they need to. Incorrect temps can cause pasty butt, so can excess stress.

Sorry to see you are having such a hard time with this batch of keets!

Hang in there, it'll get better!

 

[PhilH]

Thanks Peeps,

I was a little quick to say it was pasty butt.. It was the left overs of the squirts.. It was below the vent.. I soaked it real good a few times with a wet wash rag & it dissolved. The vent area under her little tail was good & clean.. I cleaned their tub good tonight & replaced the paper towels & so far no one has the squirts..

Tomorrow I am building them a proper brooding pen.. It will go in the living/dining area.. It will be 6 foot long & 2 foot high & deep.. I will build it with a divider in case I have to brood 2 different hatchings together.

Wife says I can buy a incubator. I will get the 1588 Genesis Hova-Bator with the egg turner. Guess I got the bug..

Again thank you Peeps..

Phil

P.S. I have a digital thermometer sensor on the bottom of the tub under the light.. The receiver says it is 90 degrees.