Chook with dirty bum. Sign of illness?

[Present_Ability_3955]

Hi all, we're in Australia have a few Hy-Line Brown POL chooks that we've had for a few months.

They generally seem pretty happy, laying pretty well, have plenty of space to run around and they are much loved.

However, we've noticed one poor chook seems to have a dirty bum with dried crusted poo embedded into the feathers (photo attached below) and she tends to isolate herself from the other chooks to a degree but otherwise is not any skinnier or sicker looking than others

What could this be due to? is it a sign of illness?

We've wormed the chooks regularly and this has happened since last worming (3months ago)

Is there anything else we should do? Would it be contagious? Should we try to somehow clean it?

 

[Chookychicky]

I would try washing it away first in a warm soak bath with soapy water, and being gentle with plying the poop apart (just gently rub the feathers between your fingers when she's had a good sit). That will get all the crusty poop off, and then just towel and air dry her (so aim for a nicer, sunnier day). Start there and see if the poop still accumulates. Any electrolytes lately? Any evidence of lice nits or eggs?

 

[Eggcessive]

It seems there is always one like this, and that was good advice from chookychicky above. Some hens may have diarrhea occasionally or the droppings may not clear the area below the vent. The next droppings can then cling to the soiled feathers. You can break up any solid dry poops, and trim any excess feathers. Probiotics or a little plain Greek yogurt with cultures every other day might be helpful. Check her crop to see that it is emptying overnight in case she has a crop disorder. Hopefully she is not developing an illness or a reproductive disorder.

Vent gleet is an extreme case of yeast infection that can happen, and it can cause a loss of feathers under the vent, raw red skin, continuous stinking runny poops.

 

[Present_Ability_3955]

Thank you both - we were initially quite worried that the poor chook was sick but she seems happy enough and not any skinnier or sicker looking than the others - will look into the above suggestions this week/next week.

 

[Eggcessive]

What do you use to worm your chickens? I use Valbazen, but fenbendazole (SafeGuard, Panacur) are very good as well.

 

[Present_Ability_3955]

I would try washing it away first in a warm soak bath with soapy water, and being gentle with plying the poop apart (just gently rub the feathers between your fingers when she's had a good sit). That will get all the crusty poop off, and then just towel and air dry her (so aim for a nicer, sunnier day). Start there and see if the poop still accumulates. Any electrolytes lately? Any evidence of lice nits or eggs?

Thank you - will try above suggestions this week or next. Can I ask what you mean by "any electrolytes lately?"? They get fresh water daily, chook food from a farm supply place as well as our leftovers and greens. Should we be giving them electrolytes in addition to above?

What do you use to worm your chickens? I use Valbazen, but fenbendazole (SafeGuard, Panacur) are very good as well.

Yes - we use Valbazen too

 

[Chookychicky]

Sometimes when they have a poopy/pasty bum, it could be from a GI disturbance and cause diarrhea (which sticks to those feathers because it dribbles down the cloaca instead of a solid poop that would form and "pop" out). And diarrhea causes dehydration. The electrolytes will help to rehydrate her and give her back some salts that she might have lost. I'd also suggest a pre/pro biotic as well, for healthy gut health (even just plain yogurt can assist with this). For the rest of your flock, they don't "need" electrolytes often, it's just a once in a while "boost" that might help during stressful times of the year, such as molting season, any first signs of illness in the flock or even during/after a hen goes broody and fails to eat/drink regularly. Hope this helps. Keep us posted.

 

[Present_Ability_3955]

Sometimes when they have a poopy/pasty bum, it could be from a GI disturbance and cause diarrhea (which sticks to those feathers because it dribbles down the cloaca instead of a solid poop that would form and "pop" out). And diarrhea causes dehydration. The electrolytes will help to rehydrate her and give her back some salts that she might have lost. I'd also suggest a pre/pro biotic as well, for healthy gut health (even just plain yogurt can assist with this). For the rest of your flock, they don't "need" electrolytes often, it's just a once in a while "boost" that might help during stressful times of the year, such as molting season, any first signs of illness in the flock or even during/after a hen goes broody and fails to eat/drink regularly. Hope this helps. Keep us posted.

Just an update - we cleaned the chooks bum as per instructions (and a second chook who had a bit of a dirty bum as well) and they both seem well and proud as punch now - thanks everyone