Pasty butt or belly button?

[Notaducker]

I can't tell exactly what's going on here. I assumed it was pasty butt but I've been trying to clean it for a few days and when I squeezed it between a wet wash cloth the chick yelped. I'm realizing that can see the vent quite a bit above this and maybe the umbilical stump is somehow involved here. This chick had not absorbed everything fully when hatched and had a tiny red ball still. Chick is 4 days old.

 

[Mtnboomer]

If its hard poo its pasty butt. Looks like pasty butt.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Make sure your watere is under the heat lamp. I have found pasty butt to be more of a problem when the chicks are given too cold of water (even just cokd tap water) to drink.

 

[Notaducker]

If its hard poo its pasty butt. Looks like pasty butt.

I think it is hard poo. Do I try to get the bottom mass off there?

 

[Notaducker]

Make sure your watere is under the heat lamp. I have found pasty butt to be more of a problem when the chicks are given too cold of water (even just cokd tap water) to drink.

I did not know that. I thought the water was supposed to be away from the lamp. Thank you, I'll move it.

 

[Mtnboomer]

I think it is hard poo. Do I try to get the bottom mass off there?

If its poo, use a warm damp paper towel to gently break it up and remove it. Sometimes i have had to use scissors to remove clumps but that can cause bare spots that become irresistible to the other chicks who may peck at it.

 

[Mtnboomer]

I did not know that. I thought the water was supposed to be away from the lamp. Thank you, I'll move it.

I keep mine within the range of the heat. No more pasty butt. Works for me.

 

[Notaducker]

If its poo, use a warm damp paper towel to gently break it up and remove it. Sometimes i have had to use scissors to remove clumps but that can cause bare spots that become irresistible to the other chicks who may peck at it.

I'm just a bit concerned I'm going to cut off the belly button or part of the dried umbilical

 

[bhawk-23]

Was it pasty butt or the umbilical cord? I'm dealing with something similar. But when I use a soaked q-tip to gently loosen it what comes off is a red tint, not poo colored. Not bright red blood, but redder than poo should be.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Was it pasty butt or the umbilical cord? I'm dealing with something similar. But when I use a soaked q-tip to gently loosen it what comes off is a red tint, not poo colored. Not bright red blood, but redder than poo should be.

Can you get some clearer photos? Hard to tell exactly where that is located. You should be able to tell the vent from the navel.
Gently wash the chick's vent under warm running water to help loosen the poop if that's what it is. Dry the chick well before putting back into the brooder. Use a hair dryer on low if need be, but careful to keep the heat moving so as to not burn the delicate skin.

If pulled too hard or the poop is caked on, pulling could tear the skin and it will bleed. If the chick's been picking at that trying to get it off, it may have bled a bit too.