Hen acting lethargic after cleaning poop off her butt

[chickentender420]

Hello fellow chicken tenders

Our hen (April) had some clumps of poop building up on her feathers so i decided to take her in a warm bath and remove the clumps. Along with the clumps came feathers. During her bath it didnt seem like that many feathers came off but looking at it it looks pretty bare down there.

She is acting lethargic and not herself (doesn't want to walk or forage) We have her by the heater on a dog bed.

Upon reasearching we found it does cause pain and trauma when feathers are forcefully plucked.

I have violated my hen and I feel awful. The way she is acting is of great concern but I cant help but think it is not all due to loosing a few feathers.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I don't think you "plucked" and feathers, those that came off while removing the clumps were probably loose. It is "molt" season, have you seen looses feathers in the coop? They do get "odd" when molting but if she's got diarrhea it's possible it's something else.

How old is she?
When was the last time she laid?
Is she eating/drinking?
Does she have diarrhea, or is she just a messy pooper?

 

[chickentender420]

I don't think you "plucked" and feathers, those that came off while removing the clumps were probably loose. It is "molt" season, have you seen looses feathers in the coop? They do get "odd" when molting but if she's got diarrhea it's possible it's something else.

How old is she?
When was the last time she laid?
Is she eating/drinking?
Does she have diarrhea, or is she just a messy pooper?

I have noticed her feathers coming off the last couple of days. Her sister went through molt recently. it may all be a coincidence!

April is 3 years old, she stopped laying early it seems. I dont remember the last time I got an egg from her. Her sister June is still going though.
She is drinking and snacking so that makes me feel better.
It may have been some diarrhea initially and it kept accumulating. I figured she would take care of it or the rain would help wash it away but I felt bad so i took matters in my own hands.

In the future how should I go about cleaning a poopy chicken butt?

Thank you!!

 

[Happy hen lover]

I have noticed her feathers coming off the last couple of days. Her sister went through molt recently. it may all be a coincidence!

April is 3 years old, she stopped laying early it seems. I dont remember the last time I got an egg from her. Her sister June is still going though.
She is drinking and snacking so that makes me feel better.
It may have been some diarrhea initially and it kept accumulating. I figured she would take care of it or the rain would help wash it away but I felt bad so i took matters in my own hands.

In the future how should I go about cleaning a poopy chicken butt?

Thank you!!

Yes I'm curious too should you just cut them off?

 

[ChickNanny13]

IF it's a continuous issue, trim her butt feathers but it's better to figure out "why".

 

[chickentender420]

Thank you for your input.

Unfortunately our April has passed on to chicken afterlife. Between the hours of 10am and 4pm she passed away.

Its a sad day at Camp Cluck. RIP April

 

[ChickNanny13]