My Silkie Margo seems to always have a dirty bottom. I check her regularly for parasites etc and she is clear. I have 2 girls as you can see and neither of them have laid for a long time. Ruby shed a lot of feathers during her moult and now appears very thin. Neither of them will touch kitchen scraps so what can I fed them to build them up for the winter? I already give them porridge each morning . How do I solve Margos dirty bottom? Advice on both matters anybody please
Have you wormed them recently? Some extra protein may not go astray: tuna, salmon, mealworms. I'd cut back on the porridge. OK as an occasional treat but lots isn't good for them. Their main feed should be a really good quality laying feed: pellets or crumble with grit or oyster shell available separately. I'm not sure what is available in Belgium. A molt can really take it out of a bird & they may need a little extra protein to help get them back up to par. If their nutritional needs are met the dirty bottom should clear up. Silkies are often not particularly good layers. @rjohns39 @BY Bob anything extra you can contribute?
Definately raise the protein level in their feed. @Ribh is correct. I would add salmon, tuna, mealworms, eggs, etc. I would also try and find some feed that is higher protein if possible. If they don't have parasites it should most likely be feed related. Try and switch protein for the carbs for a while. How old are they? My older hens have always stopped laying during molt and during the winter. It may be nothing more than that.
If you wish to give them something special in the morning still try taking their feed (I feed a crumble) and add warm water to make a mash, you can add oatmeal, applesauce, etc just for flavor! I have a cross beak silkie and I do this every morning and evening for him to get extra feed, everyone loves it!
Depending what grain your porridge is made of (I know it's different in different part of the world), I suspect by feeding it daily you are cutting the overall amount of protein the birds are getting. Protein is needed for egg production, feather growth, and building meat/muscle. I agree that adding higher protein feed and/or treats into their diet could certainly be beneficial. Changing feed can change the consistency of their droppings. This may or may not help with the dirty feathers. I feel like some birds tend to be better at keeping clean than others. Making sure they have access to a good dry dust bath on a regular basis will help some too.
This year has been hot here in Texas. My chickens have had a problem with egg production being way down. I thought since it was cooling off, things would improve, but no, I haven't had an egg in 8 days now. Have wormed them recently. My Spangled Orpington who is 3 years old, frequently has a dirty bottom. I have heard that the bigger girls don't bend their legs to poop like the lighter ones and that causes poop balls to form. I have put it as a chore in my maintainance routine to clip the down around the vent and straight down the "poop path" to prevent an issue on her. As for feed, they get layer feed with oyster shell and grit for choice. Most evenings, they get a snack before bedtime. Usually protein - mealworms, crickets, BOSS. Since weather has started cooling, I switch out the snack with corn, greens, tomatoes, squash, pumpkin. During the cold of winter, I keep rice in the ice box which I warm up and mix with their snack before bedtime. This year, I will try oatmeal instead- more nutrition?