Messy Rear end

[janinepeters]

Uh, trust me, one of our hens did get eaten by maggots. She had had a very messy rear for several weeks, got a bunch of maggots on her rear, and died. I do think modarate messes back there are normal.

Yes, I had the same thing happen a few years ago, which is why I mentioned it. I pick or cut off big blobs of stuck poop. I've given only a one a bath - she was really messy, I was not able to pick or cut it clean, and she is one of my son's favorites, so we perhaps went over board for her. But I agree that moderate messes back there are fine.

 

[loanwizard]

Well, because I have over 200 chickens on my place right now. Can't see where that would ever even be an issue for me, but I respect your position. I had over 500 on the place earlier this year but 300 of them died.... not from maggots, not a one of them.... they died from the butchers axe.

Like I referenced earlier, I give my day old chicks ACV in their water and continue that sporadically throughout their lifetime. Those are meat chicks. My layers free range and get water from a mud puddle or the pond, so they only get AVC as chicks. Haven't had one with a poop problem yet. Probably just luck.

Shawn


Quote: Why wouldn't I? Just seems like that bird was volunteering to come to dinner.

 

[outdoorsii]

Yes, I had the same thing happen a few years ago, which is why I mentioned it. I pick or cut off big blobs of stuck poop. I've given only a one a bath - she was really messy, I was not able to pick or cut it clean, and she is one of my son's favorites, so we perhaps went over board for her. But I agree that moderate messes back there are fine.

Yea my dang Whitey always has a dirty butt LOL, makes her look "non lady like" lol, she's always dirty though lol, so I cut some of her feathers way below her vent b/c they were all matted & stuff so it doesn't look as bad now but yea she needs to squat better lol

 

[Sylvestor12]

A chicken can't help getting maggots especially from a predator's wound! Why wouldn't you have your cat for dinner when IT had maggots? It's like saying chickens are to low to have special care! That can almost insult big chicken-lovers.

 

[loanwizard]

Well.... in my book, a cat... or some cats rather, are different from chickens. I farm. Chickens are livestock, raised for either meat, or eggs.

Therefore, if one got a maggot infection... actually, I wouldn't eat it, I would kill it and feed it to my hogs. I have a lot of chickens and have not had that problem, so I guess I just found it humorous.

Perhaps I don't have that problem because I had chicks once with pasty butt. They can and will die if they cannot expel waste. I was told to put Apple Cider Vinegar in their water, did, and have not had that problem since in either chicks, young adults or adults.

Sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[Sylvestor12]

Thank you for that, it just really rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Definitely clean their buts (either cut off the poop with heavy duty scissors or soak them in a tub then rub the poop between your fingers until gone).

When I was too busy to do that my hen was getting stressed from the irritation of the poop stuck to her. (Respiratory disease symptoms) I cut it off finally and she was looking much more active and healthier.

Give chicks fine sand so they can digest easily and not get pasted (or use clean potting soil w/out fertilizer in it as their bedding (worked fine for me)).

Runny poops can mean stress too. If the runs are lettuce green then one (or maybe all) are not getting enough food.

If it's light brown and foamy (then later you see little worm like things in the poop) your hens have worms.

Watch the hen(s) poop a few times and if there is blood in each poop, it is most likely coccidiosis.