Feces covers feathers at vent.

[chrism]

I've seen this discussed but didn't pay attention.
Now that I have a hen with the problem I need some advice.
She is eating and mobile. Otherwise seems to be in good health.
What could be the issue and what are some remedies?

 

[11ChickenGirl11]

It is probably because she got constipated and couldn't pass the poop out completely. It is actually prettly easy to fix; just wipe her bottom/wash her vent with some warm water while scrubbing it. The piece should come off. It could also happen if your chickens sit in a dirty area and it gets stuck to their feathers. Just do the same procedure. Don't forget to dry the feathers

 

[chrism]

Thank you.
What other possible reasons could this be happening?
The vent itself doesn't look healthy.

 

[11ChickenGirl11]

Did you just notice the poop on her vent? There is a chance that her vent could be infected; you could always put a bit of antibiotic ointment on it after you clean the hen's vent off. However, if she is behaving fine, if might just be a mild case. Better act now then never.

 

[chrism]

Yes, I've just noticed it yesterday.
I'll get a warm, soapy bath prepared and apply ointment.

 

[chrism]

Update:
I got the most affected bird into a bath of soapy water.
I feel bad because this has obviously gone unnoticed for too long.
Her tail feathers were completely packed with feces.
I soaked her for a good 15 minutes while I whispered sweet nothings to keep her calm.
I think my neighbor heard me.

I scrubbed gently and most of the feathers around the vent were removed.
Luckily the skin around the vent didn't look broken or sore. Dark pink maybe but not sore looking.
Please advice on what I should do next?

I now noticed 3 others with minimal white droppings on the tail feathers.
The majority of the flock seem just fine.
Admittedly, I've had some difficulty keeping the water as fresh as should be.
Today I reinstalled the auto waterer now that temps are up.

 

[chrism]

After more reading it seems most likely due to me not keeping fresh enough water this winter.
First winter season doing this and overall, pretty well managed.
Will she be okay if I keep it clean while her feathers grow back?
About how long for new growth?

 

[chrism]

Nobody can offer any useful advice?

 

[11ChickenGirl11]

Yes, they should always have fresh water; chickens get dehydrated easily.
If you keep them clean, new feathers should grow back completely in about a month, depending on what they eat and how many feathers they have lost.
You can give them more protein for them to grow back new feathers quicker but under moderation; as long as if they are not full on molting. Black oil sunflower seeds or dried mealworms are good treats but use common sense with how much to give your chickens.

 

[Made in USA 1]

Hi make sure you keep clean water, try to have an area that is dry for them to be in. One product everyone should have on hand is Vetericyn spray. It works wonders on wounds to aid in healing. It keeps the wound moist, and helps protect it from contamination. Be very careful when cleaning the vent area as it is very sensitive. I use a warm face cleaning pad, or small wash cloth, but I let it soak for several minutes and never pull the poo off. I let it get soft and then it wipes off. Also be very careful to dry the feathers with a hair dryer on low before introducing the bird back to the flock or they will peck at the wet feathers and can start the butt to bleed. We have also used olive oil on a Q tip to lube the outer vent area. Again don't wet the feathers too much, anything different will cause the rest to peck. They notice everything! One thing you can give the bird would be some yogurt good bacteria with help in digestion and maybe better for the vent for a couple of days. Good luck.