Week Old Chick - Continual Pasty Butt

[CheekyChooks]

We got 4 baby chicks yesterday and Molly the buff orpington had bad pasty butt when we got her out the box at home. We have cleaned her back area twice now, picking and plucking at crusty feathers and poo and washing in warm water to soften everthing up enough to pull off.

Her bum is now really sore and exposed due to having to keep cleaning her butt. I noticed even now its clean, when her soft poos come out a little bit is always stuck to her backend, it just never all drops to the floor. I'm not sure how many more times we can keep trying to clean her up before it impacts her well being. It is quite distressing for her.

Do you have any advice on clearing up this condition and what the chances are she will be OK? Other than this she is eating, drinking and walking fine. Lovely chick, dont want to loose her (if it is a her ... were still not sure what they all are yet!).

Thanks

 

[Fred's Hens]

Have you dabbed it's rear with olive oil or vasoline? It helps a lot.

 

[CheekyChooks]

Actually no ... I'll have to look see if I have some. Good idea

 

[Miss Lydia]

i have also read giving the chicks some sand spred in the bottom of the brooder helps too.

 

[chickengrl]

yes, we have had good luck with baby oil on the butt. Makes the poo slide off and not stick and protects the tissue there. Olive or mineral oil works perfectly fine too. You can also trim back some feathers. Good luck!

 

[CheekyChooks]

Thankyoou! I have sand so I'll add some in there. Still looking for the olive oil

 

[bburn]

Quote:
I have a dish that is flat bottomed that I have filled with sand. They use it often. They 'dust' bathe in it and they eat it for grit and they say it helps.....

The oil helps.....lots.

 

[CheekyChooks]

Just put a pile of sand in the corner and they are loving it. Peggy the polish to scratching and digging away ... Molly the one with pasty butt hasn't really been in the mood to get stuck in but she is eating and drinking so I'm not going to panic about her being ill yet. Her poor little butt looks so sore ... I hope she forgives me for all the pain shes been put through! Thanks for the advice!