Dried Poop On Hen's Butt Feathers

[DonnaBelle]

Tonight when I went to lock up the flock, I notice one hen had dried poop in her butt feathers, and on closer inspection, others had been picking/pecking her bottom. It was red, and lots of poop balls.

So, with my DH's help we took her to the house, run warm water on her and got all the poop off. Put a little Triple Anti-B Ointment on her fanny and then sprayed her with blue-kote.

My Mom and DH's Mom both had large flocks of chickens, we were standing there drying her feathers with a hair dryer and I told my husband, "what would are Mom's say about us doing this." He said he bet his Mom would have been totally flabbergasted and amazed. HA>

I put her in the little chick coop for tonight. It was real dark when we took her back, everyone else was roosting.

I'll keep her separate for a few days....

Anyone else had this problem??

DonnaBelle

 

[purpletree23]

It's a very common problem. One the other hens start picking on someone they are relentless. Having her heal a bit will help and being away from the bullies will allow her to rest and eat in peace. The blue kote should eliminate the picking but watch her carefully. It sounds horrible but sometimes hens have pecked other hens rumps so bad that they can bleed to death.

 

[usschicago1]

Happens with my cochin alot. I pull them out if i go late on it. or regularly cut them back around the vent.

 

[chookchick]

You might want to read up on pecking and cannabalism. This might be just a freak thing, but I'd hate for it to continue as it can be a real nightmare. Some of the things that contribute are overcrowding (happens a lot in winter, when they are shut in), boredom, lack of protein and perhaps other nutrient deficiencies, and too much light. Hopefully you can head this off.