4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[ross81]

First of all id like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped me out with advice on hatching and the answers to so many questions.

 

Next problem is ive been away for the weekend and left my SIL in charge of the babies i never had anything on the floor of the indoor hutch anyway i have just came back 30 mins ago and some of the chicks have a dirty bum. I have tried to wash them using a bowl of luke warm water and a cloth i have managed to get most of it off. I have cleaned the hutch and put some aubiose in. Is this a bigger problem that i should be worried about? or just keep an eye on them?

 

Thanks

[atsw]

It's known as 'pasty bottom'. Carefully clean the pasty crud off of their bottoms. Use warm water and a washcloth. You might need to moisten the poop with your fingers and warm water first, but it should come off fairly easily (sometimes you have to tug gently but it usually all comes off). You need to get this off or it can block their vent.

 

Andrew

[Egluntyne]

This needs careful management as it can become a serious problem.

 

Do as atsw suggests, and check them regularly and deal with any pasted vents immediately.

 

Plenty of fresh water should be available to them.

[ross81]

thanks andrew and egluntine

 

will check again in the morning but they seem fine just now they are getting fresh water in a chick drinker every day. apart from just cleaning and water is there anything else i can give them to help?

[atsw]

Apart from just cleaning and water is there anything else i can give them to help?

No, they just need a constant supply of fresh water and chick crumbs - don't feed them anything else for now. Once their insides settle down the poo's will firm up and the problem will clear.

 

Andrew

[Charlottechicken]

I used a cotton bud dipped into a (disposable) cup of warm water was easiest to use. I also found this to be a very short term problem, and they had managed to go to the loo cleanly after a few days.

 

Chicks bottoms must be kept clean, not only can it clog the vent up, but chick skin is very thin and if another chick tugs at the dried faeces, the skin may tear, with not a happy outcome.

[Lewis]

We had a chick this morning with a pasted vent. No-one else would touch it .

 

I cleaned it up with warm water and a paper towel and because it got wet we put it back in the incubator for a while and it was fine afterwards