Ok, I am super new to the whole raising chickens hobby. before ordering I researched for several months to be sure it was something I really wanted to do. the more I red the more I wanted some. so a month ago I order 20 red sex link chicks. they arrived 2 days ago. today after reading that I would have to check the vent area for pasting up I realized I don't know a whole lot about the underside of a chick. there are 2 holes but I don't know which one is the vent, however on most of them the area needed to be cleaned. I used warm water under theheat lamp with a very soft rinsed out baby wipe, then that is when I discovered they have a 2nd hole a bit further down. on most of the chicks thereis this tiny black tough crusty stuff on it...almost looks like a dried umbelical cord on a week old baby. Can someone help me. I don't know if there is something wrong or if its nothing at all. All the chiks are super active eating and drinking away..and boy can they ever eat!!!! I only got one where both holes was blocked and super messy and a bit red I wetted through andthen gently wiped the poo away but she is still red, but I am guessing its from being blocked!!
