AT wits end with these girls PLEASE HELP!

[JakRat]

Hello,
I have posted before about this, and now it is worse!

I had one girl whose bottom was really gross. No blood or anything but she was caked in her own mess. I have probably given her a bath 4 times this winter. Now that we got a cold snap back 4 out of my 6 girls have messy bottoms!!! I just dont know what to do anymore. Should I bring them all in and wash them off? It looks as though I might have to cut off some feathers... sigh chicken hair cut...

I am giving them oyster shells, their normal food, good water... no mites no bugs, and they run around the yard when it isnt to windy... any ideas!

 

[chickengrl]

Have you ever wormed them? Sorry about you having to go though this. I know I wouldn't be happy having to wash several poopy chicken butts. I am not sure what else it could be, but some more experienced members may have some ideas. Good luck!

 

[caspernc]

worming AND olive oil in their food. I added olive oil to their food and it made an over night differance! Not really their food but their treats, as in oatmeal w/raisens and olive oil. GOOD stuff!

 

[dawg53]

I agree with worming them, but I'd also trim back their feathers/fluff with scissors...no more poopy butt.

 

[FoghornsGirls]

OMG, I have the same issue with one of our 12 hens and my wife has washed her bottom numerous times as well. We have had chickens for about 4 years now and have never seen this nor have we ever heard of worming the chickens. Can someone please explain what I use and how? Thanks much!

 

[chickengrl]

Dawg has the best info on that in chart form. There is one wormer in particular that gets ALL worms. I am afraid I might tell you wrong. We used Eprinex pour on, but it does not get all types of worms, but it will kill some external blood sucking parsites. I thinl we will use the one Dawg recommends next time around in the Fall. Hope that helps. Just PM him and I am sure he can help more.

 

[dawg53]

If you're going to worm your chickens, I recommend Valbazen(albendazole) liquid cattle/sheep wormer. It kills all known worms that chickens can get. It can be ordered from Jefferslivestock.com or call them. Dosage is given orally, right down the throat...1/2cc for stand size chickens, 1/4cc for smaller chickens. There is a 14 day withdrawal period.
I wormed mine yesterday morning and this afternoon I saw dead large roundworms in some of the poop while I was going around the backyard scooping poop. I had just wormed them in January with valbazen and followed up 10 days later with eprinex. This is why I worm quarterly...our soil here is condusive for worms, it doesnt freeze as long as our northern or mountainous neighbors in other places.

 

[caspernc]

With olive oil I still have BIG fluffy butts......LOL......NO feather trimming! BUT after a short conversation with dawg I will be worming the chicks the way he does. Mine are just not quite old enough. But I also be putting some of POPs stuff in their food too! search it.

 

[kla37]

Quote:
I ended up doing this for 2 of my cochins. It totally worked.

 

[caspernc]

BTW dawg, can you worm your chickens inthe dark? I got 31 thinking some would pass......didn't happen. I have 31! all are not tame.....can you worm them in the dark? or should I just give water wormer quarterly>