it's 3 to 5 days to watch for the pasty back sides. they rarely come that way. Got your electrolytes? if not green gatoraid and water. ( 1 quart of gatoraid makes 1 gal of drinking water )
I actually asked about this in the Raising Chicks forum earlier today because a couple had crusties this morning. They kicked back a corner of the paper towels last night and I think they ate some wood shavings. I just added some QuikChik to their water tonight - hoping it clears up...way harder to inspect those little fuzzy butts than I imagined!
So, at what point do chicks stop being absolutely horrified when they see a person? I have one or two curious/brave ones...but the majority totally smash themselves into the corners when I appear. They spread back out after a few mins, but I feel terrible freaking them out.