Awesome! I love chickens. The best part is when they realize you are the one feeding them, they get real friendly and happy to see you. Hopefully you're in the know on pasty butt. Its the only down side I've dealt with when raising chicks.
>Hopefully you're in the know on pasty butt. Its the only down side I've dealt with when raising chicks.>>
Well I am now, lol. Thanks, fren. The more I know the sooner, the better.
Glad to help! The best way I've found to clean them is just a little cotton swab with warm water on it. Swab it until it comes off. Luckily it's just for the first few weeks. As far as I've seen, there is no avoiding it. The only thing is it seems to effect different breads more or less. Wyandottes had a pretty low rate but we just got some Black Australorps and those were really bad with pasty butt. They all grew up healthy but it seemed like I had to clean every single chick at some point.
Just had a friend complaining about how her australorps were picking on her Pablo potatoes lol. Don’t know anything about either of those breeds.
But yes, I read about pasty butt today and exactly what you describe is exactly what I was planning. Warm water swab, dry butt, and I saw some advice indicating to put a dap of vaseline on the butt after it’s clear and dry to prevent more build up. Definitely a learning experience.
Chicks were not shipped today per the hatchery. Expecting they will be shipped tomorrow. We’ll see. It will be a transcontinental ride for them, so I am already feeling their pain haha.
Re-sized the brooder today (think it was too large for 12 chicks), and lined it with puppy pee pads (over top of the brown paper and paper towel lining (I know overkill). I’ve read, and again, do not know as I’ve never done this before, that it is difficult for them to navigate through pine shavings for the first few days.
Also read their initial water should be the same temp as the brooder (95-100F), with a couple of tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar per quart of water to help with rehydration and pasty butt.
Thoughts?
(post is archived)