- Thread starter
- #21
Jess172
Lovin' The Homestead
Bad news.....
Before I went to bed last night I checked on my chicks. All seemed well. They were all running around playing and eating. The brooder and water were clean. I get up this morning to find the chicks had nearly filled both waterers with pine chips. Then I see the pasty butt.... I immediately clean the water and start soaking butts. Looks like 4 of the 24 chicks got pasty butt. Got the first 3 chicks cleaned off just fine with much protesting from them but when I picked up #4 I knew things were bad. She was so weak
i cleaned her off and she started pooping but I guess it was too late. She wouldn't eat or drink or even stand up and died within an hour. 
I know this is part of raising animals. Still can't help but feel guilty I didn't catch it in time. So now I'm on butt guard duty. About every 6 hours I'm having a close up chicken butt inspection. Also going to pick up some apple cider vinegar to add to the water. I don't think it's too hot in the brooder as they are spread out nicely. It's very likely that they got chilled during shipment which supposedly can cause pasty butt. I've been reading up on it since its a problem I'm having right now but there are so many contradictory opinions on how to treat and the exact cause on it. I'll just do the best I can and hope for the best.
In other news, my lil one seems much better today. She still got up early but it wasn't to vomit this time. She did have a slight upset stomach but it soon passed and she's been fine ever since. Haven't got to use the tiller yet but my hubby has been playing with it all day. Maybe I'll get a turn eventually.
Before I went to bed last night I checked on my chicks. All seemed well. They were all running around playing and eating. The brooder and water were clean. I get up this morning to find the chicks had nearly filled both waterers with pine chips. Then I see the pasty butt.... I immediately clean the water and start soaking butts. Looks like 4 of the 24 chicks got pasty butt. Got the first 3 chicks cleaned off just fine with much protesting from them but when I picked up #4 I knew things were bad. She was so weak
i cleaned her off and she started pooping but I guess it was too late. She wouldn't eat or drink or even stand up and died within an hour. I know this is part of raising animals. Still can't help but feel guilty I didn't catch it in time. So now I'm on butt guard duty. About every 6 hours I'm having a close up chicken butt inspection. Also going to pick up some apple cider vinegar to add to the water. I don't think it's too hot in the brooder as they are spread out nicely. It's very likely that they got chilled during shipment which supposedly can cause pasty butt. I've been reading up on it since its a problem I'm having right now but there are so many contradictory opinions on how to treat and the exact cause on it. I'll just do the best I can and hope for the best. In other news, my lil one seems much better today. She still got up early but it wasn't to vomit this time. She did have a slight upset stomach but it soon passed and she's been fine ever since. Haven't got to use the tiller yet but my hubby has been playing with it all day. Maybe I'll get a turn eventually.
Even if it was only for a few hours.
They stunk soooo bad! They looked ok in the package and had a sell by date of 3/31 so I guess they just went bad for some reason. This isn't the first time this has happened to me from this particular large chain store. I've learned my lesson. Won't buy meat there again. I took the chops back and the lady at customer service asked if I just wanted to exchange them for another package of chops. No thanks! I got my money back and went to a different store. With all the recalls on food and buying spoiled food from the store it just makes me all the more invested in growing and raising my own food. I see a cow and pig in my future. Not this year and maybe not the next but it will happen eventually. I'd feel much better knowing how the animal was raised and processing myself.
