For about the first week of a chick’s life watch to be sure it isn’t suffering from “poopy butt.”  Recognizing the condition is easy:  the chick has poop stuck to its behind.  The poop can matt the down around the chick’s little butt hole and close it up.  When he can’t poop anymore he dies.

Solving the problem is easy.  When you feed your chicks or whenever you check on them, spend some time watching them to see if anyone has a poopy butt, then catch it and treat it.  At first, I hauled the chick to the house, and used little cue tips to gently wipe the little bottom.   But I found it was a lot easier to keep some paper towels in the coop and when I saw a poopy butt, I dampened a towel and wiped it off.  Sometimes the down on his hind end will peel off.  Don’t worry, that’s fine.

It doesn’t take long for them to be able to clean themselves.  But until then, this is a critical bit of care you need to provide.