Icicle Butt

[Ginnyw]

Hi everyone,

We are having some issues with one of our chickens. We have 5 chickens all who are about 2 years old. They are all different breads except two araucanas. One night we found a blue egg that was covered in blood. The next morning one of our araucanas had a massive white icicle hanging out of her butt. We soaked her in water to dissolve it. Then we left her inside in a box for the day so that her feathers could dry. Some of the poop in the box looked normal butt some of it was very watery. She seems to be acting normal. A couple days later we found another blue egg with blood on it, maybe not quite as bad as the first. Last night it got around 0 degrees and now there is another icicle hanging from her butt. I think watery poop is leaking through the night that is causing it to freeze and create the icicle. Her poop has always been more liquid-like than all of our other chickens' poop. We feed our chickens normal chicken food and occasionally vegetables. Any ideas on what the cause of this is? Should we be concerned? Thanks for your help!

 

[MrsBachbach]

It is not unusual for a pullet to have blood on her first few eggs. That should stop after her first few lays. I'm not sure what the leakage could be about, but I would first try putting her on some probiotics. Is the icicle hanging from her vent feathers? You could try plucking a few feathers from around her vent (clear the area out so to speak) and that might prevent the icicles from forming. That won't address her runny poop though. There are lots of reasons that could be happening. You may just have to go through a process of elimination on that. Plenty of diseases could be causing that like e-coli, coccidiosis, salmonella, or even a diet change. If your chickens free range and the weather has been wet, they can have runny droppings also.

 

[Ginnyw]

I know that it is not uncommon to have the a chicken's first few eggs to be bloody but my chickens are 2 years old which makes me more concerned. Are there any other things that might cause the bloody eggs? Plucking out some of her feathers might help. She had another icicle this morning. I will research those diseases. Are any of those contagious? Should I be worried about my other chickens getting it? The chickens are not free range so I don't think that is the cause. Thanks for your help!

 

[MrsBachbach]

I know that it is not uncommon to have the a chicken's first few eggs to be bloody but my chickens are 2 years old which makes me more concerned. Are there any other things that might cause the bloody eggs? Plucking out some of her feathers might help. She had another icicle this morning. I will research those diseases. Are any of those contagious? Should I be worried about my other chickens getting it? The chickens are not free range so I don't think that is the cause. Thanks for your help!

Well, I don't know what could be causing the bloody eggs then. It is on the outside of the egg right? I think coccidiosis can cause bloody poop that may get on the eggs. Do they act sick? Just kind of stand around fluffed up? Maybe you should try treating for that first, as it is the most common. Corid works well for that.

Here's a link to a medicine chart with dosages and such you might find helpful:
,https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/medicine-chart

I believe the dosage for Corid is 9.5 ml per gallon of water for 5-7 days.

 

[Ginnyw]

Yes. The blood is only ever on the out side. I have not seen blood actually in the poop and she is acting perfectly fine. That makes me think that she does not have coccidosis. Also what I read about it it sounds like something more common in younger chicks. Thanks for your helpful suggestions!

 

[MrsBachbach]

Well, it must be contagious! I just found a bloody egg myself today. Not from a pullet, but a hen. Like you, I haven't seen any blood in poop and chickens are not looking ill. Pretty strange.

 

[Sarevan]

When it very cold here, one of EE's got ice hanging from her butt also from runny poo. We ended up finding worms so they were all wormed. After the treatment she didn't have an icy butt.

One of our Welsummers lays eggs with blood on her eggs, makes it look a darker brown until you wipe the egg off and see that it is blood. Her vent is fine, no problem laying. Drops an egg every day now. She is a year old and has always been this way, just keep an eye on her for problems.

 

[Ginnyw]

OK. Thanks so much for your help!!!!