Cleaning Poopy Rear Fluff

[Ma]

One of my Orpy hens has (or had) a runny poo that left the nice fluff on her rear covered with what is now hard and encrusted poo. No one else in the flock has any signs of this, and she is just fine otherwise. I suspect a little too much scratch is the culprit, so I'm cutting way back, and the temperatures are finally moderating here so the need for such is less.

But, the question:
Should I just leave it alone, let her clean it, or trim it off with the sizzors?

Her vent is just fine too, btw. Nothing impacted, pink and moist as should be. Her eggs, laid everyday, are fine too.

Any ideas appreciated!

Ma

 

[Buff Hooligans]

When my Orp got a little messy back there, I just nabbed her and brought her in to the bathroom sink. I just used a papertowel moistened with a warm water and a touch of handsoap and scrubbed gently. She didn't seem to mind too much.

Since it was cold outside, I kept her inside for a couple hours in a cat crate to dry off.

Good luck with your messy girl!

 

[Becca]

Hi, i had this problem before too. i just used a soft sponge dipped in warm water, and gently wiped it. once it was all clean, i dried her off with a fluffy towel, and as it was a sunny day let her out in the sun to finish drying! good as new!! hoep this helps.

 

[gretchen]

I just had this problem with my Barred Rock, but hers was a big giant poo, so I had to cut it out (I did try to do the soaking/wiping/wet washcloth thing first but it was too hard/frozen to even start to come off). I let the girls out today and there was another one on her rear. Like the yard full of a winters load of poop isn't enough, now I have to cut poop off her hiney. Good luck.

 

[d.k]

*One of those beige rubber pop-on sink sprayers w/ the short hose is really helpful when washing/rinsing chickens. And A VERY TINY pinch of baking soda in the water w/baby shampoo helps soften the crud.