how do cure pasted vent on a chick?

-- Ahrend Walters (jesus_saves@myself.com), March 19, 2001

Answers

Others will have good advise also but I'll tell you what we do.

First, make sure the chicks have access to chick grit or sand. Not a lot at first or they may eat that instead of their food but after a couple days, introduce it. We sprinkle it over their food. This helps head off a lot of pasted bottoms.

If the vent is already pasted, we use warm water and wait until the manure has softened and then remove it. Be very careful to be patient not pull it away too fast or you can damage the chick. I've heard that you can pull the "insides" out because some of it was attached to the manure, but that could be just scare tactics. However, if the manure isn't softened enough when you pull it off it can also cause them to bleed. Just wait for the water to work and gently peel it away.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@linkup.net), March 19, 2001.

Instead of warm water, we use vegetable oil. I'm not sure why or who told us but it does seem to work. Of course water may work just as well. We have only ever had problems with heavy breed birds (especially orpingtons). It is important to take care of it or you will lose the baby. We've never lost a chick that we cleaned. Kim

-- kim (fleece@eritter.net), March 19, 2001.

I use warm water and watch diligently for the first few weeks. After washing and gently patting dry, I apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment. Grit is the answer.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), March 19, 2001.

I give my chicks greens from day 1 also bread along with grain .I haven't had pasted butts since I started this.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), March 19, 2001.

I had pasted vents on my chicks last year. The heat lamp was too far away and there was not enough grit. However I did lose one chick to pulling the manure off. It was attached to the belly button (I guess) and I didn't realize it. I pulled it out and the chick died. Not a big loss for me because I expected to lose alot more. annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), March 19, 2001.