Constipated chick in brooder

I have this baby chick that is about 10 days old. She has a large amount of poop hanging from her butt. I tried wiping it off and it seems to just sit there. Not sure what to do her or how to address the situation. Any advice would be appreciated.

Internet here is lame. I will try to upload some pictures.

It's good to get the poop off.

If you can get it off like a bandaid and it takes some of the down with it.  It feels like a horrible wax-job.  Not nice for the chick in the moment, but it removes the feathers the poo sticks to and it can save the life of the chick.

Alternatively, give it a lukewarm bath (about the same temp as a baby bottle - human blood temperature) until the poo is soft enough to clean off.

If it's more than one chick, make sure there is a choice of temperatures.  One warm corner and one cooler corner.  

Add a bit of garden soil to the brooder for them to play with.  Maybe a few weeds.  This helps to improve the bacteria and grit in their gut.

I have questions as to what it is. Hold a warm moist compress against it for at least 5 minutes and see if that helps to loosen it. It should not do any harm.

Sounds like it could be "pasty butt". I haven't delt with it yet, but it seems to be pretty common.

Treatment is pretty much what the other replies say, wash off the poop. I would add to make sure to dry the chick before returning to the others. A hair dryer is a good way to dry while keeping warm.

I actually just ran into this with one of my hatchlings.

We ran lukewarm water across the chick's bottom and let the flow dislodge the mass from the vent. We then ran a hair dryer on low heat and made sure to chick was dry before being reintroduced to the brooder. My partner took over the dryer and got pooped on so we feel like everything is functioning as planned.

So far, no reoccurance!

Pasty butt is probably the most common of easily fixable things with chicks.
I prefer the running water version, but understand that we all have different circumstances. Standing warm water works, too.

I use a tiny trickle of warm water to loosen and peel the poop off/get it to dissolve, then treat the area with a little water soluble gel - triple antibiotic can be used, or whatever skin care works for you. I'm hesitant and can't advise the use of anything with a tint to it, or anything that isn't easy to digest, so use your best judgement. You want to apply just a small amount to any reddened area or where the poop was stuck to the skin. It helps the chick to heal well and prevents another pasty butt episode.

Giving the chicks some dirt to play with, or letting them have some time outside (in a safe area with protection and supervision) can also help. I generally offer grass, weed clumps, and food bits (fruit, vegetable pieces, dry pet food, ...) so they get used to the idea that food comes in many shapes, colors, and flavors. It does help their intestinal flora to offer yogurt, too. Small amounts of whatever you want to try, off to the side of their brooder, can keep things interesting while they're doing the hard job of growing up.

Hi Martin,
Sounds like everyone already beat me to it :), definitely sounds like pasty butt, and you already know how to deal with it.

I like to try to step back even further and look at why the chick got pasty butt. I once had about 12 of my chicks (out of 30) get pasty butt. I share that just so you won't feel bad about 1 getting it. Most of the time that I have seen and heard, they get pasty butt due to stress, and often due to stress with temperature levels. Either too cold or too hot. It would not hurt to do a check of the brooder for temp variations, and maybe add some apple cider vinegar/honey/garlic to their water to help with some elctrolytes.

**Edit for typos

Oh, I've been there with chick poop troubles! It can definitely be a concern, but there are a few things you can try to help your little one.

First, make sure the brooder or coop is clean and dry. Sometimes, messy bedding can contribute to this issue.

Next, you can gently soak the area around the stuck poop with warm water. Use a soft cloth or tissue to very gently wipe it away. Be super careful not to pull on it, as you don't want to hurt the chick.

If that doesn't work, you might need to wait it out a bit. Sometimes chicks have a bit of a messy phase, and their bodies can naturally deal with it as they grow.

But do keep an eye on her. If it gets worse or if she seems distressed, it might be a good idea to consult a veterinarian or a more experienced chicken keeper for guidance. Sometimes, an underlying health issue could be causing this.

In most cases, a little patience and some gentle cleaning should do the trick. Chickens can be messy little creatures, but they usually grow out of it as they mature. Good luck, and I hope your chick gets back to her happy, fluffy self soon! 🐣🧼

Haha, that's absolutely hilarious! Your little chicks have turned your greenhouse into a comedy show!