Hens have watery stools, otherwise completely fine!

[Hennyhoneys]

Hi there, need some help! We have 8 hens, and roughly 2/3 of them have had watery stools for nearly a month now. It started with just two or three and now we have a couple more with the issue. They are otherwise completely fine in my opinion, though I am new to raising chickens. They are eight months old. I checked their vents and I don’t see any concern there.
It seems to me this started when it got colder out.
It’s been suggested that it could be worms, it could be low protein, or could be too much protein. We have not wormed or vaccinated them past anything they would’ve gotten at the tractor supply before we purchased them. I have used black walnut tincture for a parasite cleanse, just in case, though, I don’t see any evidence of worms. Just really messy butts. I’ve had to bathe them a few times, and therefore blow dry their bottoms because it’s freezing at times! Surprisingly, they haven’t minded the blowing dying too much.

Picture for giggles.

TIA!

 

[OneHappyDuckie]

What do you feed them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

Can you post photos of the poop and bums?
What do you feed including treats?
Any changes in feed (different brand/formula), environment (added anything new like compost, different roaming space, etc.), have they had access to any machinery fluid spills (oils), etc.?

Are they laying consistently?

 

[Hennyhoneys]

We feed them Nutrena Nature Smart Organic Layer Crumbles (16%) and they occasionally get the same brand scratch feed as well as sunflowers seeds, meal worms, and occasional food scraps but I’ve really been limiting food scraps since the issue. Maybe 1-2 cups at the most of scratch/seeds every day to every other day.
I think they are laying just fine. One of our Easter Eggers hasn’t started yet but she’s had some trauma from hawks and she’s petite. Additionally we are in a Michigan winter, albeit a mild one. We get 5-7 eggs per day from the 7 laying hens and they are beautiful eggs.

I don’t see any issues with messy butts with Easter Eggers, just with the Barred Rocks and Australorps and Buff Orpingtons.

I don’t monitor their droppings individually, just have noticed watery droppings when observing them free ranging and they are occasional and not consistent. Nearly all
droppings in their main areas and under roost bars look like pic attached.

It’s tough to get a picture of the vents on my own but they have been clean. I’ll try for a better pic later.

 

[Hennyhoneys]

No changes to feed or environment other than maybe this started slowly as they adjusted to less bugs in their diet due to winter?

 

[Hennyhoneys]

@Wyorp Rock and @OneHappyDuckie I neglected to tag you in my reply!

 

[OneHappyDuckie]

We feed them Nutrena Nature Smart Organic Layer Crumbles (16%) and they occasionally get the same brand scratch feed as well as sunflowers seeds, meal worms, and occasional food scraps but I’ve really been limiting food scraps since the issue. Maybe 1-2 cups at the most of scratch/seeds every day to every other day.
I think they are laying just fine. One of our Easter Eggers hasn’t started yet but she’s had some trauma from hawks and she’s petite. Additionally we are in a Michigan winter, albeit a mild one. We get 5-7 eggs per day from the 7 laying hens and they are beautiful eggs.

I don’t see any issues with messy butts with Easter Eggers, just with the Barred Rocks and Australorps and Buff Orpingtons.

I don’t monitor their droppings individually, just have noticed watery droppings when observing them free ranging and they are occasional and not consistent. Nearly all
droppings in their main areas and under roost bars look like pic attached.

It’s tough to get a picture of the vents on my own but they have been clean. I’ll try for a better pic later.

Limiting scraps and treats was a good idea!
Have you checked them for mites/lice?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We feed them Nutrena Nature Smart Organic Layer Crumbles (16%) and they occasionally get the same brand scratch feed as well as sunflowers seeds, meal worms, and occasional food scraps but I’ve really been limiting food scraps since the issue. Maybe 1-2 cups at the most of scratch/seeds every day to every other day.
I think they are laying just fine. One of our Easter Eggers hasn’t started yet but she’s had some trauma from hawks and she’s petite. Additionally we are in a Michigan winter, albeit a mild one. We get 5-7 eggs per day from the 7 laying hens and they are beautiful eggs.

I don’t see any issues with messy butts with Easter Eggers, just with the Barred Rocks and Australorps and Buff Orpingtons.

I don’t monitor their droppings individually, just have noticed watery droppings when observing them free ranging and they are occasional and not consistent. Nearly all
droppings in their main areas and under roost bars look like pic attached.

It’s tough to get a picture of the vents on my own but they have been clean. I’ll try for a better pic later.

The poop in the photos looks very normal.

You list BR, BO and Australorps as having the messy bums, these 3 types of breeds, I have had. They seem to be extra fluffy around the bum and yes, at times, you may need to clean them up, especially if the poop doesn't clear those bum feathers.
Lightly trimming some of the fluff around the vent and the poofy bottoms can help poop to clear a bit better. DO wear a mask if you trim that fluff, it's very fine and the fibers float everywhere especially up the nostrils.

If all are eating/drinking/active/laying eggs, etc., then I don't know if I'd be too concerned.
Getting a fecal float to rule out worms is always a good idea, as is looking for lice/mites. But some hens can just have bottoms that collect droppings more than others.