[animal mad]

hi, i have 5 two week old hybrid chicks, they are all happy and bright. one of the chicks constantly seems to have some poo stuck around his lower feathers, i cleaned her yesterday and again today it is back again. i have seen her pass a normal poo maybe a bit soft, i was told it would dry up and just to leave it but i am not sure . these are my first chicks and i want to do the best for them. can anyone help.

[Roughlee Handled]

Couple of questions for you.
What are they being feed?
Where are they being kept?
Are they with other chickens?

Not a real problem I have to clean my big chucks bums every now and again.

[animal mad]

they are in a brooder- plastic box 1m x 70cm in my utility room. they have an electric hen for a heat source. they have chopped straw as bedding. they are on a medicated chick crumb that i got from the poultary keeper where i got them from. she got them as day old sexed chicks from a hatchery, and they came to me 3 days ago.

i dont have any other chickens.

[Roughlee Handled]

I can not see anything wrong in your set up. I have no experience of electric hens just heat lamps. What temperature is your hen set at?  It could be they may be a little chilly and therefore do not want to move and poo institute. 

Two of three batches of chicks have had pooey bottoms and it lasted up to a week with one lot Can take a little time catching them and then loosening the poo and getting it off. But it stopped not long after for me.

[poppies]

Hi try cotton wool with warm water to soften it, it makes it easier to clean off

[animal mad]

Thanks for your help, it is good to know that i am not doing anything wrong. i am not sure what temp the electric hen is as it has one set temp. they seem to be active and move around alot, and have started to try and jump a little so i put a block of wood in for them to stand on.