Chicken pooping.....

[DarleneE]

Question please... My Easter Egger who is approx 25 weeks old has suddenly begun to poop a tiny little amount on you when you pick her up. She's NEVER done this before and I'm concerned something could be wrong?? It's NOT a normal whole big poop... it's only a small amount. I'm sorry to be gross, but I'm seriously concerned at this new behavior all of a sudden. Thank you.

 

[chicmom]

I would say, that as long as she doesn't have a dirty bum, and everything looks OK and she has a nice fluffy bum, then don't worry about that.

 

[DarleneE]

Well I've not noticed her bum dirty but then again HOW would you see if it's dirty with all that fluffy butt that they have?? I'm SO sorry to sound SO ignorant, but truthfully I'm a new chicken mama, only have two, and I truthfully don't have any idea how to begin to look for a dirty bum?? Would it show thru those back fluffy feathers?? Thank you so much for your help!!

 

[chicmom]

No question is ignorant!

I didn't mean to make you feel that way!

What I mean is, do her feathers on her backside look clean and fluffy, or are they matted and poopy. (I didn't mean you actually have to part those feathers and look at her vent. (The vent is where the egg AND the poo comes out. Yep, they poo and lay eggs out of the same hole.)

If your hen is clean looking (just by looking at her), then she's probably just fine. Maybe she's a bit nervous so she poops a little when you pick her up.

 

[DarleneE]

No no no you did NOT make me feel bad in any way!! Quite the contrary in fact!! You've been most kind!! Okay now I gotcha!! Her back side is just as fluffy and cute as ever.. no poo or anything!! I DID though part the feathers and look to be sure everything looked normal and thank heavens it did!! SO.. in conclusion, what I think happened is EXACTLY what you said...that she got a bit nervous!! AND I also have the perfect explanation to my own question in fact, lol!! She did this when in fact my husband picked her up and once when my grandson picked her up... which tells me that she most likely gets nervous when someone OTHER than myself pick her up!! Thanks so much for responding to my question as well as your kindness!! It is most appreciated!!

 

[chicmom]

Oh I'm so glad! You are more than welcome! I worry about the slightest thing myself! I'm so glad everything is ok with your hen!

 

[DarleneE]

Chicmom, btw just wanted to explain that we have to pick them both up and carry them back and forth from their coop to their outdoor play/peck area!! I always do this, unless something odd happens like today, in which my husband and grandson did this for me!! Their coop is inside our screened/block walls lanai for their greater protection from predators. Then their play area in the backyard is a pretty long ways from the coop.. thus why we carry them to and from!! It's near the back part of our yard and past the pool, pool decking AND a wood deck my husband built!! So if I try to let them walk back and forth, they tend to wander off to other areas in the yard which could be dangerous to them, such as landscaping plants, etc etc. I LOVE them to death, and have no problem at all carrying them back and forth.. in fact I love carrying and holding them period!! I just wanted to explain all the "carrying" going on!! Heeeeheeeee lol Oh and also btw, my other hen is a Barred Rock. They were hatched together and are completely inseparable!! They're the cutest little things... my babies!! Thanks again for your help!!

[/IMG]

These are my two girls, Daisy and Olivia!!

 

[chicmom]

Oh my gosh! They are beautiful! And hey, there's nothing wrong with pampering your pets, even if they're chickens. I just love birds. I also have four parrots. I've always been drawn to birds....And chickens have such little personalities....I'll have to post some pics of mine for you.....We should keep in touch! I'm clear up in Ohio....We could be chicken pen pals haha

I pick up my chickens too, and I pet them every day. It's amazing how soft their feathers are and how clean they really are.

Take care and keep in touch!
Sharon