Dried, dirty feathers under tail - advice?

[orloffer]

This morning I noticed that one of our hens, Orloff, had poop stuck to the feathers under her tail/vent area. Her vent doesn't seem to be blocked, and it does not bother her (I will say, however, that I have not been keeping very close track of her). She made what seemed to me a rather large excrement earlier today, but that is all that I have seen. Does anyone have recommendations on how to approach this problem? I have attached several pictures below from this morning (it has dried significantly since then).

 

[chickenlittle21]

Give her a bath. Use dawn soap and warm water

 

[FlockFromPa]

Beautiful hen! I just hatched my very first orloffs! If it were me I would trim alot of those feathers off. Then wash what's left off of her

 

[orloffer]

Thank you, I will see about trying to give her a bath tomorrow. Out of curiosity, why would this happen in the first place? It hasn't been a problem in the past.

 

[chickenlittle21]

Out of curiosity, why would this happen in the first place?

Diarrhea

 

[FlockFromPa]

Thank you, I will see about trying to give her a bath tomorrow. Out of curiosity, why would this happen in the first place? It hasn't been a problem in the past.

I've honestly never seen a hen with a bottom this dirty! Have you dewormed your flock recently? It could possibly be worms

 

[orloffer]

We have never dewormed our flock...

 

[FlockFromPa]

We have never dewormed our flock...

That could definately be the culprit then!

 

[dawg53]

I've honestly never seen a hen with a bottom this dirty! Have you dewormed your flock recently? It could possibly be worms

That's not true, a myth. I can assure you of that.

@orloffer There are other causes; vent gleet, warm or hot temps causing birds to drink alot of water, watermelon, coccidiosis, ecoli, improper diet. If there is a very foul odor, it's vent gleet. Hopefully fly strike hasnt occurred.

Also, do not trim back feathers and fluff too much. Urates in feces will scald the skin causing redness, irritation and possible swelling.

Wash her butt off with the garden hose using a sprayer. Pat dry her rear end with an old rag and release her.

 

[orloffer]

Thank you for the advice, @dawg53
They have been drinking more water than usual lately, as it gets rather warm in the afternoons. Also they have had their fair share of watermelon rind pieces over the last couple of weeks, so both of those causes seem reasonable.