Dirty butt question

[trudyg]

Who does the fecal test. I feed regular layer pallets and scratch for treats. And fruits. Where can I get a dewormer and do I put it in food water?

Call the vet and see if they'll do a fecal. You just drop off a sample and they call you. Maybe watch the treats/fruit, they really don't need it if they get good pellet food. Try Tractor Supply or any Farm store (Rural King, your county co-op) for wormers and other supplies.

 

[trudyg]

Hey, Aart, my coop is stationary but I can move the fencing easy enough. Should I maybe route it to a different piece of ground? I did that last summer, too, and can do it again. You never know what pathogens the ground holds. Also, they hang out under the coop and, while I try to rake out poops and lay down clean sand, maybe it's holding worm eggs or something? I can block off anything I need to.

 

[ChickenLover08100]

pastey butt? sorry about your bird

 

[Fairview01]

Post a pic

 

[featherhead007]

I would like to say, that my hen only had pasty butt, its blood from a dog bite today. Got her right on her vent. I never wanted that person staying with me, to get that dog in the first place.
It was brought home without permission.

 

[aart]

Hey, Aart, my coop is stationary but I can move the fencing easy enough. Should I maybe route it to a different piece of ground? I did that last summer, too, and can do it again. You never know what pathogens the ground holds. Also, they hang out under the coop and, while I try to rake out poops and lay down clean sand, maybe it's holding worm eggs or something? I can block off anything I need to.

I suppose in your climate rotating 'pastures' might be a good idea.
I don't know enough about it to advise...other than it would be good to get a good fecal done by a reputable lab that will give you species and numbers found in fecal, so you know what you're up against.
Dirty butt feathers from juicy poops(assuming they are not just clinging dingleberries) can be caused by several things.
When I think about parasites in the south, I think of @dawg53

 

[dawg53]

@trudyg I dont see anything that your doing wrong. Sand deters parasites because it dries quick. Parasites prefer warm moist soil. You can trim feathers and fluff back a little so that they get a clear "shot" to the ground. Dont trim back too much though, urates will burn the skin causing irritation and redness.
Use a garden hose to wash off their rear end, a strong spray washes the poop away. That's what I do and it saves time. Then use an old rag or towel to pat dry their bottom especially in cold temps. I had to spray my two Light Brahmas this morning, dirty birds.

 

[trudyg]

I just cleaned the worst one's butt. Oh my, it was caked on all the way to the cloaca, don't know how anything could get past it. Several large chunks, like ping pong balls almost. I'm afraid I didn't get her all the way clean, but she was so stressed and her comb was going purple, so I stopped. I wasn't holding her tightly, just cuddling wings under the holding arm with one leg in my hand, using other hand to wash and pick off the poo. When I put her down outside, she just flopped and didn't move. I was afraid I killed her. I put her in the coop on the soft hay and left long enough to clean up the mess in my bathroom. When I came back out she was just laying there, on her side, and I was so afraid I'd broken her in some way. I went ahead and did my chores (scoop poop board, fill the water and feeders (wash day for waterers, so took awhile). When I came back to look at her, she just stood up and went outside. So, I guess she's ok. There were no bugs at all on her. She had a poop while I was out there, so here's the picture.

It was very loose and wet, more so than pudding. I'll keep an eye out for more poops, but she's running away from me now. Any ideas? I still have to get a fecal done, just haven't had the chance. I was very happy to see no lice or mites, so good for that. The darker spot by the poop is a black feather, not another poop.

 

[trudyg]

I followed the advice on another thread and gave them all some cooked rice with yogurt. She had another poop while I was standing there and it was the same as the one in the picture. I'll keep watching for anything else odd, but nothing so far. Today and tomorrow will be nice, sunny and around 50, but then rain again just about all week.

 

[noregerts]

That poop looks normal to me