Why do chicks get pasty butt?

Pasty butt is when a chick’s poop becomes stuck to their butt. The cause is diarrhea from stress most often caused from being too cold, too hot, nutrition deficiency and/or too crowded in the brooder.

Brooder Space

Chicks are tiny in size, yet need more wing space than many assume. They require about 0.5 square feet of space per bird for the first 4 weeks, increasing to one square foot per bird from 4 to 8 weeks.

Nutrition

From day old to 6 weeks of age, feed chicks a high-protein (18%-22%) starter feed. At age 6-to-8 weeks of age, transition them to a grower feed ration. Refrain from feeding chicks food scraps until they are over 4 weeks in age.

Temperature

Pro Tip: Plug the heat lamp or radiant heater into a temperature controller, such as this Inkbird model, to assist in keeping the brooder at optimal temperature.