Common Chick Problems: Pasty Butt, Splayed Legs and Chilling

Baby chicks are tougher than they look and more fragile than they seem. Most arrive healthy and grow without trouble, but a handful of problems turn up often enough that every new keeper should know them. Catching trouble in the first hour, not the first day, is often the difference between a chick that recovers and one that does not.

This guide covers frequent chick problems and general first steps. It is not a substitute for veterinary care, and a sick or declining chick should be seen by a vet or extension office when possible. If you want to find poultry health workshops near you, agriculture.directory can help you find agriculture events in your area.

Check Chicks Every Day

Look at every chick at least twice a day for the first two weeks. Healthy chicks are active, curious, eat and drink and have clean, dry vents. Chicks that sit apart, look sleepy, have a droopy posture, cheep constantly or have messy vents deserve a closer look. Our brooder guide on this site explains temperature and setup, which prevent many problems.

Pasty Butt

Pasty butt, also called pasting up, is when droppings stick to a chick's down and block the vent. It is common in shipped chicks, which are stressed by travel and temperature changes. If untreated, the blockage can kill a chick. To treat it, gently soften the dried droppings with a warm, damp cloth or by holding the chick's rear under lukewarm running water, and carefully remove the mass without pulling skin or down. Dry the chick thoroughly and return it to the warm brooder. Some keepers apply a tiny amount of oil or petroleum jelly to the vent after cleaning to keep the area from sticking, though advice varies. Check daily for several days, since pasting can recur. Overheating or chilling often contributes, so check brooder temperature.

Splayed Legs (Spraddle Leg)

In splayed leg, a chick's legs slide out sideways, and the chick cannot stand or walk properly. It is often related to slippery flooring, such as newspaper or smooth plastic, particularly in the first days. It can also be linked to incubation conditions. If caught early, many chicks recover. Provide non-slip footing like paper towels over rough surfaces, or shavings on top of a mat. A gentle hobble made of a soft band, such as a bit of elastic or a loose tie around the legs, can hold legs in a normal position for a few days while they strengthen, but ask an experienced keeper or vet to show you the method, because a tight hobble can injure legs. Make sure the chick can reach food and water.

Chilling and Overheating

• Chilled chicks huddle tightly under the heat source, cheep loudly and may be lethargic. Warm them gradually, and check that the brooder temperature is right.
• Overheated chicks pant, spread their wings and move away from the heat, sometimes crowding at the edges. Lower the heat, and give more space and ventilation.

Chick behavior is the best thermometer. The Penn State Extension poultry pages describe brooding temperatures by week.

Shipping Stress and Not Drinking

Chicks that arrive in the mail may be tired and dehydrated. Dip each chick's beak gently in water to show it where the water is, and keep the water at room temperature. Provide feed at once. Some keepers add electrolytes or sugar to the first water, though advice varies, and plain water is acceptable. Chicks that will not drink or eat within the first day deserve extra attention.

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by protozoa that thrive in damp litter. Signs include bloody or watery droppings, lethargy, ruffled feathers and slow growth, usually appearing from a few weeks of age. Some starter feeds contain a coccidiostat to help control it, and some chicks are vaccinated by the hatchery. Keep litter dry and clean, and avoid crowding. If you suspect it, contact a veterinarian promptly, since treatment depends on a diagnosis. The Merck Veterinary Manual poultry section describes the disease.

Failure to Thrive

Some chicks start poorly and never catch up, sometimes called failure to thrive or a runt. Make sure they have access to food and water, are warm and are not being bullied by bigger chicks. Some benefit from being moved to a separate small brooder with a few quiet companions. Others do not make it, which is a hard fact of raising chicks.

Pecking and Bullying

Chicks peck at each other's toes and vents, particularly when crowded, overheated, bored or stressed. Provide enough space, feeders and waterers, and distractions like greens and perches. Remove injured chicks until healed, since red wounds attract pecking.

Fixing the Environment First

• Keep the brooder warm but not hot, with a cooler area to move away.
• Use non-slip bedding, such as pine shavings, after the first days.
• Keep bedding dry and clean.
• Keep feed and water clean and available.
• Prevent drafts without sealing ventilation.

When to Call a Vet

Seek help if several chicks are sick at once, if you see bloody droppings, labored breathing, swelling or sudden deaths. Backyard flock disease can spread to people and other birds, and some conditions need testing. Your state veterinarian's office and USDA APHIS publish information on reportable poultry diseases. Wash your hands after handling chicks, as the CDC backyard poultry guidance recommends.

Common Mistakes

• Ignoring pasty butt. It can kill chicks quickly.
• Slippery flooring. It can cause splayed legs.
• Guessing at temperature. Watch chick behavior.
• Letting bedding get wet. It fosters disease.
• Waiting too long to ask for help. Chicks decline fast.

Farm.fm's page on broiler chickens covers meat chickens, and for a laugh, see farm.fm's piece on a county livestock exhibition.