five month americauna pullet with nasty behind.

[bucky52]

my pullet just started laying last week.she laid four perfect little eggs.this week i have found soft shell eggs on the roost board and in and aound the coop and run.i know thats some what normal when they first start to lay.my concern is she is nasty around her vent area.i think she has dirrea.(spelling) i have washed her vent area off three times this week.i also trimmed her feathers around her vent.maybe i didn't trim enough .she was nasty again yesterday.with the 100 degree tempertures we have been having i have noticed that my flock is not eating very much.i have been giving them fruit and veggies,plus their layer feed.any imput on this would be helpful.
thanks in advance.

 

[LizaBlue]

Diarrhea is not uncommon when it is hot. Your chickens probably prefer the fresh fruits and veggies to their feed (I know mine do) which also causes loose stools. Keeping them hydrated is a challenge in this weather - they don't like hot water any more than we do in summer. Putting large chunks of ice in their waterers in the morning can help if you aren't able to refresh them during the day. Adding some of those electrolyte powders may help too. Some chickens will wade if given the opportunity. Heat makes them lose their appetite, so they may feel hungrier in the cool of the evening or first thing in the morning. Our chickens retire to the coop a bit before sundown, but we have electricity in there, so I turn on a light and fans and put out a shallow pan of food in addition to their feeders, sprinkling some corn to get their attention. I don't do it immediately after they retire, but after they have settled down a bit, and they usually feed for about 15 minutes and back to bed with a full crop. Adding something to their feed, like some boiled egg, applesauce or yogurt, and feeding it to them when they are cool, may help them get the nutrition they need and the fiber to help with diarrhea

 

[LizaBlue]

Hope it didn't sound like I was scolding you for the fruits and veggies - in this heat they need all the moisture and nutrients they can get

 

[bucky52]

thank you.any information is helpful.i gave them some chopped up grapes twiced this week.and notice thats when my pullets had diarrhea.
no more grapes for her.