How poopy is too poopy?

[tickens33]

My partner and I have seven 5-month-old hens, with two laying as far as we can tell. They started laying in the last couple weeks. We don’t know for sure which ones are laying, but based on comb + wattle appearance and squatting, we’re pretty sure we know which ones.



We’ve noticed recently that the (suspected) active layers have some poop getting stuck in their butt fluff. We saw one of them poop and it was a little bit watery.



Nothing has changed about their diet other than getting oyster shell on the side, and all the other chickens have their usual clean butts. No lethargy or any other signs of sickness, besides the runny poops. So I’m assuming their bodies are just going through an adjustment period with all the hormones.



My question is, how poopy is too poopy? Is it necessary to clean up the little drips to prevent fly strike? It really is a very small amount getting stuck on the butt feathers, like on a scale of 0 to pasty butt it’s probably less than a 1.



Our chickens are on an off grid property with no running water, so giving them a bath would be a huge pain, but of course we’ll do it if it’s needed! This is our first time having chickens (or any livestock for that matter) so we just want to make sure we’re doing our due diligence and staying on top of this stuff. I have pictures of both the poop and butts in question if anyone thinks they need to see Thanks so much

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

We always want poop pictures lol. Some chickens have a tendency to get messier butts than others. Like Cochins. I have never found a need to bathe a chicken for aestehtic purposes. Do they have a good dust bathing area? I usually get sand for this and it seems to do the trick without the trauma of an unnatural water bath.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos would help with assessing but some birds are messier poopers than others. Trimming the feathers under the vent can help with build up issues, and lasts longer than a bath.

 

[tickens33]

@rosemarythyme @BlindLemonChicken Sorry for the delay and thank you for responding! Here’s the poopy butt and runny poop from a few days ago. Most of their butts are a little poopy like this and little drops crusted on the feathers.

 

[Jenbirdee]

my chocolate Orpington hens have so much fluff back there. I must trim it once or twice a year. I am also concerned about poop attracting flies and fly strike so I take them in and wash then trim just the area under the vent.

 

[tickens33]

my chocolate Orpington hens have so much fluff back there. I must trim it once or twice a year. I am also concerned about poop attracting flies and fly strike so I take them in and wash then trim just the area under the vent.

So you’re saying absolutely any amount of poop on the vent or feathers could cause fly strike? This is what i’m trying to understand. Thank you

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sorry for the delay and thank you for responding! Here’s the poopy butt and runny poop from a few days ago. Most of their butts are a little poopy like this and little drops crusted on the feathers.

Eh the fluff isn't that poopy. I was expecting a lot more crusting or matting. For me I would see no reason to trim that. That said, we don't have an issue with fly strike here. It might be different if that's a known problem in your area.

 

[Jenbirdee]

So you’re saying absolutely any amount of poop on the vent or feathers could cause fly strike? This is what i’m trying to understand. Thank you

they can clean it off in dust bath if it’s not too much. yours has just a little. mine sometimes get thick matted . so i feel like i must intervene. probably my own fault for letting them in the area where the berry bushes are . we never had fly strike and i don’t know the official statistics but i just assume that poop attracts flies. and i think it doesn’t hurt them to trim the feathers.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

My brahma gets a really poopy butt.
Trim the butt fluff.
Bathe if absolutely necessary. My brahmas needs a bath again. Keeping her back end clean is hard.
Your girl looks ok just trim up her fluff a little. Take a wet wipe or a wet towel and wipe the area as well. No running water is necessary unless it gets worse.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I also wouldn't even consider that a problem. Frankly, I probably wouldnt notice it. My Cochins and Faverolles would occasionally get a bit yucky during the wetter months but I never bathed them. Whenever it happened I would let them out into the yard on the first dry sunny day and they would find a good spot to dust themselves off. They have dust bathing areas in their regular run but after a wet spell those can be a little poopy so a fresh place is a good idea in that situation.