Wiping Your Chicks Bum?

[jessithy]

I had a couple of chicks not make it recently. I noticed dried poop of both of their bums. Then I heard from someone that you need to clean or wipe the baby chicks bum. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I used warm water and a paper towel and just did my best to soak it and get it off, it takes a little while to remove. Just be sure you let them dry good and watch them because when I put them back in with the others, they pecked at their wet bottoms so I separated them until they were completely dry!

 

[Critter Crazed]

It's called pasting up. Their poor little butts get stuffed up and they die unless you un-stuff it. Like the post above me said, use warm water. You don't want them to get cold.

This is what I did: If someone had a pasty butt I would go get a dixie cup of warm water and a paper towel. I'd wet the paper towel and wipe their bottoms until the blockage would go away. If the towel got cold, I'd re-wet it with warm water from the cup. When I got all of the stuff off of their bottoms I would put a little vaseline on their down so that it wouldn't happen again. I had one chick that kept pasting up but after I put vaseline on its bottom they stopped because it makes their down slippery and not sticky.

It's a very.... indignant procedure? Lol.

Sorry for the loss of your chicks and I hope they survive from now on!

 

[jessithy]

Thanks for the advice... Can't wait to go home and give it a try! lol Vaseline huh... I could see how that may help.

Thanks Again
Jessica

 

[Critter Crazed]

Yup, no problem! And if you are worried about the other chicks pecking at their bottom, none of my chicks pecked at them. Well they did once or twice but then once they got the taste of the vaseline they stopped.

Soon the vaseline will dry up and they will have normal cute fluffy butts! I'm not an expert but I hope I helped!

 

[jessithy]

Thanks... it sure does help. I am not excited about wiping bums, but if I gotta do it occasionally for my 5 year old daughter... why not do it for my chicks.

 

[KareyABohr]

This is what I do....
(Please no one shoot me!)

But pasty butt usually happens when chicks get chilled. If it does happen I just very carefully pull the "plug" and feathers around it off. I am sure it does cause some discomfort, but they don't typically gell up again. I feel that if chill causes it, (which I think most people agree it does) then putting them in warm water and then putting them back into a cold environment is very counter productive.
This is just my opinion and I have had very successful broods.
Good luck!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

I agree that "pulling the plug" is important. Just wiping the external poo off does not solve the problem. I had to kind of dig in there to get the "plug" out and it was very stressful, as the chick is NOT happy while you're doing it, but once I did that, I had no more problems with Pasty Butt.

I don't necessarily agree that it's caused by the brooder being cold. If anything, ours might have been too warm. I also think the electrolyte powder the feed store recommended was part of the problem - I think I put too much of it in the water, so if you use it, don't OVER-use it.

 

[jessithy]

Quote:
I was really wondering if the feed was it, since we have raised a few chicks in the past and never had the problem. Before we used a local feed mills starter feed. This time I bought a bag from Tractor Supply Co. Its more like pellets then the mash feed we used in the past. I really think tomorrow I will pick up a bag at the feed mill. Its worth a shot anyway.

 

[Davaroo]

When they get pasty butt, it is normally a stress reaction, combined with GI systems that aren't settled yet. This is why I ease them into feeding and feed nothing for the first 72 hours. Then it is only milled oatmeal, hard boiled egg and a bit of green feed for a few days.

If they get it, you want to ease off their stomach, I suggest a special blend of chick feed or milled oatmeal mixed with clean sand. Feed this til it clears up.

If they get the "plug", just dunk their butts in warm water til the plug softens and work it gently off.