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Dirty bottoms

post #1 of 10
3/15/12 at 1:50pm
Thread Starter 
That's as delicate as I could be smile.png

I noticed this afternoon that t least two of my hens have a nasty accumulation of poop dried to their feathers. It is not blocking the vent, but it looks awful and probably isn't all that sanitary. Is there a best way to clean it up? I realize it could be due to their diet, but I don't know what the critical factor would be? Too much of something? Not enough? Fillers in the commercial feed? I use Dumor (I think that's the brand name) crumbles for layers. They have access to clean water all day.
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post #2 of 10
3/15/12 at 1:56pm

I have one hen that's chronic with it, her fluff is longer than the rest and I think that's "catching" it on the way out. So I trimmed her fluff. Made it worse.

 

We are now committed to butt washing every 2 weeks or so until those feathers fall out and grow back.

 

I bring her to a sink, spray her tush, lather in dish soap, work in it, pull off the chunk, rinse, air dry. We only do it weather permitting, warmer than 60. She stands there like a champ, as if she likes the relief afterwards or something. Don't even have to restrain her.

 

Then I bleach the heck out of that sink. I tried to yank a feather out, to see if I could just pluck the excess. That was a resounding NO from the chicken.

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post #3 of 10
3/16/12 at 10:00am

I also have one who's butt does not look so great, they free range all day and the others seem fine

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post #4 of 10
3/18/12 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mandelyn View Post

I have one hen that's chronic with it, her fluff is longer than the rest and I think that's "catching" it on the way out. So I trimmed her fluff. Made it worse.

 

We are now committed to butt washing every 2 weeks or so until those feathers fall out and grow back.

 

I bring her to a sink, spray her tush, lather in dish soap, work in it, pull off the chunk, rinse, air dry. We only do it weather permitting, warmer than 60. She stands there like a champ, as if she likes the relief afterwards or something. Don't even have to restrain her.

 

Then I bleach the heck out of that sink. I tried to yank a feather out, to see if I could just pluck the excess. That was a resounding NO from the chicken.

Just regular dish soap?  

 

I have a stand-up shower where we wash the dog.  I'd probably just use that.  Still the whole idea of bringing them into the house makes me ill.  I just *know* one is going to poop on the carpet (and my arm) on the way in.  :)
 

 

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post #5 of 10
3/19/12 at 2:33pm

Yep, regular dish doap, lavender scented. I checked for a skin irritation after the first time, nothing.

 

Don't worry, it'll be gross. lol.png

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post #6 of 10
3/19/12 at 8:01pm

Just wear gloves.  Bathtub comes to mind if you don't have a scrub sink.  Have fun! 

 

Or, you could wash outside.  Use an immersion heater (at a horse store or catalog), heat up a big tub of water (assuming you don't have hot water near the coop), and give her a bath in a smaller tub.  Tractor Supply or Southern States have tubs (or the good old Salvation Army or discount store).

 

Let us know how it goes.

Cheers,

N. VA

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post #7 of 10
3/19/12 at 8:37pm
If it is nothing but rock hard cwapola, it can be crushed in place with good pair of pliers, into powder (don't pull - just crush). We tried soaking once, but stressed the hen worse than us. If wet and `ammoniacal' then soap and water is required.
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post #8 of 10
3/20/12 at 6:14am

One of my chickens had this, I just trimmed her feathers back and haven't had a problem.

Good luck! 

2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Black Stars

 

Chicken Behavior Article

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2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Black Stars

 

Chicken Behavior Article

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post #9 of 10
3/20/12 at 8:23am

4 our of our 5 have the same problem and it's because they have epically fluffy butt fuzz.  The one who doesn't (our EE) has no problems at all.  All I did was take a sharp pair of scissors and trimmed the fluff down.  That solved the issue for 3 of the 4, and the 4th just needed a second trimming.  Now, they're all good.  I'll just redo it all when they molt.

A Mixed 6-Chicken Flock

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A Mixed 6-Chicken Flock

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post #10 of 10
3/20/12 at 11:47am

Try children's liquid bubble bath. I pick a warm day, even in winter, fill a small tub with warm water and bubble bath liquid, and round up the dirty butts one at a time for "tune-ups".

 

Back the chicken up to the tub, splash warm sudsy water on the crust to soften it, then use a wash cloth or finger anil brush to scrub the feathers clean. There's no need to rinse as you would need to do with dish liquid.

 

However, recently I wanted to scrub a hen's neck that I had applied greasy "pick-no-more" to. I used Dawn liquid for that job and rinsed.

 


Edited by azygous - 3/20/12 at 11:49am

One matronly, yet regal, Light Brahma hen, two Silver-laced Wyandotte hens, two Gold-laced Wyandotte hens, one Black Cochin hen, three Ameraucana hens, one Buff Brahma hen, four sassy Speckled Sussex hens, one Buff Brahma roo, and one nineteen-year old cat who's scared of all of them, especially the roo.

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One matronly, yet regal, Light Brahma hen, two Silver-laced Wyandotte hens, two Gold-laced Wyandotte hens, one Black Cochin hen, three Ameraucana hens, one Buff Brahma hen, four sassy Speckled Sussex hens, one Buff Brahma roo, and one nineteen-year old cat who's scared of all of them, especially the roo.

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