Hen with messy bum feathers

[Jade23]

Hello all I have a hen whose bum feathers are just caked with poo and she sticks really bad. Is that normal? She is alert and active, but I look at her bum and it looks like not all of the poop is makjng it off her feathers so it all just sticks and clumps together. What should I do??

 

[DobieLover]

Hello all I have a hen whose bum feathers are just caked with poo and she sticks really bad. Is that normal? She is alert and active, but I look at her bum and it looks like not all of the poop is makjng it off her feathers so it all just sticks and clumps together. What should I do??

No, it's not normal.
Can you post a picture?
Does it just smell like poop or does it have a yeasty aroma?
Regardless, the first step is to soak her in some warm slightly soapy water and get as much of the mess off her as possible. Squeeze hardened poop between your fingers to crush it then swirl it and carefully roll and squeeze the feathers to get it off. Very gently scrub the skin if required with a soft bristle tooth brush. Don't irritate it. After you get her clean rinse her in clean warm water and towel her dry and take another picture.
What are you feeding her and how old is she?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It isn't normal and you probably need to give her a bath.
There is something going on in her gut. It could be bacteria or worms.
Get some probiotics in her and try to get a fecal sample read.

 

[Jade23]

No, it's not normal.
Can you post a picture?
Does it just smell like poop or does it have a yeasty aroma?
Regardless, the first step is to soak her in some warm slightly soapy water and get as much of the mess off her as possible. Squeeze hardened poop between your fingers to crush it then swirl it and carefully roll and squeeze the feathers to get it off. Very gently scrub the skin if required with a soft bristle tooth brush. Don't irritate it. After you get her clean rinse her in clean warm water and towel her dry and take another picture.
What are you feeding her and how old is she?

She’s about a year and a half now, she gets eggs, typical feed, sometimes corn, oatmeal and she’s free range. It doesnt smell yeasty just chicken poopy.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What state/country are you in?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You could use plain kefir or yogurt but I prefer an avian probiotic powder which will balance the gut biome.

 

[Jade23]

What state/country are you in?

Humboldt county CA