A bit of pasty butt drama today with two of the chicks. It’s extremely common, yet potentially lethal, so not something to be trifled with. Extremely common in hatchery chicks, Pasty Butt is thought to be caused by stress from shipping (how would you feel if they put you in a box just after birth and mailed you to a far-away city?) or from too-hot or too-cold surroundings, or from too much sugar (sugar is sometimes added to chicks’ water).
Our greatest concern was for this little Light Brahma, (name undecided – Edith was a frontrunner, but now thinking of Amelia for her bravery and adventurous nature
Yes, she looks fine in the picture, and appears active and healthy, but had all the symptoms of Pasty Butt earlier today (I’ll spare you the details and be glad it wasn’t you trying to fix it with paper towels, warm water, q-tips and olive oil). Enough said. The Buff Orpington chick – unnamed as yet but Buttercup is a possibility – was also at risk, but seems ok after the above-described intervention.
Lily, the Delaware, and Autumn, the Ameracauna (or Easter-Egger) are both fine and non Pasty-Butted. Good for them, as who wants that on their resume?
