Fecal build-up

[damselfish]

I have one Buff O that is like this too. Her vent is not dirty, but there's always poop stuck to her feathers below the vent. She's not sick as far as I can tell, and this has been going on since she was a pullet. She's a good eater, my best forager, and a decent though not outstanding layer. The eggs are always clean since the vent itself is clean.

Everyone else is clean. Maybe she just has poor grooming habits, I'm not sure. She does have that wide Buff Orpington rear, so it's possible that she just can't get her head around that far.

 

[Imp]

I have one GLW that also has poopy feathers around her rear. I'm planning to trim the feathers, probably tomorrow.

Imp- I feel like a dork typing that

- needs more coffee

 

[RiverBendPol]

OK, so here's what I did this afternoon. I held each girl backwards, poohy parts under warm running water at the sink. The globs of poo were hard as rock, poor girls. I kneaded and massaged the mung till it all dissipated then patted dry with a towel. I did learn something, and IMP, this will help you, do NOT use scissors in this process. Feathers have feelings! Poor Poohy was my first victim and I figured I'd trim her up like a cat with hair mats. WRONG. The poor thing was limp and relaxed in my arm till I snipped my first snip. She squawked and wriggled and kicked. Yikes, what a bad mother. Now I'm taking them some molasses tea. I just don't know why 2 are poohy and one is a pure-fluff-Buff-O-lovely-butt. They all do the same thing together every day, I can't guess what 2 are doing to cause the ailment.
Thanks for all your help....

 

[Imp]

Riverbendpol,
Never heard that before. I've trimmed feathers before without a problem. Maybe someone with more experience can chime in with definative answer?? or maybe another opinion.

Imp- learns more every day & doesn't want to hurt his chicken