Cleaning a dirty butt

[Clucking happy]

Sorry, not sure if this is best here or disease section- apologies mods feel free to put me on the naughty step

We have a rumpless araucana, only state that bit as I know there’s different breed standards.
She is coming up a year old, they are all being fed a mix of layers and growers (to increase protein in winter). They have some cabbage/ greens as peck “toys” and a bit of corn/ sunflower seeds in the afternoon. They free range most of the day over about an acre.
No current evidence of worms/ mites. However float test planned, travel a bit tricky this week with snow/ ice. Everyone was wormed end of June and repeat dose given as packet advised- flubenvet in feed (based on visible worm and float test, I’m very mindful of resistance issues).
Weekly pre/probiotics given and vitamins in water and oyster shell available.

Our girl seems to need regular baths to clean her butt, she regularly gets in a mess. Poop is normal colour and consistency- it just seems to stick to her fluff. That’s been fine in the summer but we are having an “artic blast” (love the dramatic weather descriptions), temps 1-4 degree centigrade during day and -5 C overnight. So I’m not keen to bath her, despite a house of three females we don’t own a hair dryer!

Would my best plan be to try and trim the dry poop out and ensure her bottom has more of a “slope” to try and prevent this reoccurring (knowing we’ll have to repeat it with moults)? I know not to cut too short to prevent pecking, but all tips welcomed! I’ve never trimmed a chicken, let alone their bottom.
Or is there another way to dry her? She’d hate to be separated from her girl crew, she might be the smallest but she’d like to believe she’s top of the flock- she’s not, but no one seems to dare tell her otherwise.

 

[gtaus]

Would my best plan be to try and trim the dry poop out and ensure her bottom has more of a “slope” to try and prevent this reoccurring (knowing we’ll have to repeat it with moults)? I know not to cut too short to prevent pecking, but all tips welcomed! I’ve never trimmed a chicken, let alone their bottom.

I have never really had that problem with my hens. Every once in a while, I will notice some dried poo on a bottom, but I just keep an eye on the hen and it is usually gone in a day or two. Other than an occasional days old chick with pasty butt, I have never had to wipe the bottoms of my adult chickens.

I have never had your chicken breed. If that's a problem with the breed, and it always needed bathing by me, I would not get that same breed again. My goal is always to find chicken breeds that can handle my weather with minimal interventions by me. Where I live, it can get down to -40F in the dead of winter. No way could I be bathing and/or wiping chicken butts in that cold.

I'm signing on to this thread to see what other smarter people suggest. Good luck on your situation.

 

[aart]

Trimming the fluff that catches the poops will help immensely,
and last until the next molt.
Cut the feathers to about 1/4-1/2" from the skin.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I trim the feathers on my fluffy butt orpingtons in the winter with no issues. On another note, cabbage can cause gastrointestinal issues especially if they have daily access to it. It is very high in fructans which can irritate the bowels.

 

[Clucking happy]

Thanks all,

I can’t work out how to quote multiple responses (sorry, first week here!!)

Gtaurs- agree!! We won’t be getting more araucanas, not least as we’ve found more info about the lethal gene they often have. Newbie mistake and one we have learnt!

Hollow I didn’t know that about cabbage, I will definitely be removing this just in case! They have a bit of a mix of veg, but will not offer as frequently.

Definitely will give the trim tomorrow, luckily she’s a cuddle girl so hoping with a second pair of hands we can tidy her up and make her feel more comfortable.

 

[K0k0shka]

This would be a good time to get a hair dryer. They aren't expensive, and are easy to find - both online and in the real world. Get one if you find yourself having to bathe a chicken in the winter, and with chickens, you never know what you're gonna need to do, so it's good to be prepared!

I have English Orpingtons that are too fluffy for their own good, and I do have to periodically bathe and trim them. In the winter, I try not to trim too much, so as not to compromise the insulating qualities of their butt fluff. They'll need warm pants in the winter! So I would recommend to get a hair dryer, give your pullet a good bath, and then trim the feathers but leave enough fluff so she isn't showing any skin. Trim her once she's dry though, because it will be easier to see if you're leaving enough fluff on her pants.

 

[Clucking happy]

Thank you, yes I think we need to grab one for those times when you have no choice!
We did a trim job and she did really well, very nerve wracking as I was worried about catching her skin- but that fluff is extremely long. Luckily it means she’s good coverage left and no skin on show.
A bit of cooked egg for a treat was appreciated.