Missing fluff feathers on butt with blood & white crust. HELP?

[Taterchick]

I am not sure what the problem is but I have two 13-month-old Aracanas in my flock that are missing their feathers on their bottoms and have bloody white crust on their bottoms. I isolated them as I saw another chicken pecking their bottoms. I am guessing that is where the blood is from as they aren't bleeding anymore. I washed their bottoms and put on an antibiotic lotion. They are eating and drinking. One is still laying.

should I be worried? What should I do? I am feeding them layer ration and water. They have free choice of scratch and oyster shell.

 

[justusnak]

You did the right thing. Seperation, clean and dress. Just keep them seperate for a few days. Is the "white crusty stuff" poo??? Are they haveing "normal" poos? Maybe you can get some Blue Kote...and apply it to thier bottoms, to keep them from getting pecked...or pecking each other. Good luck with them, I am sure they will be fine, now that you removed them.

 

[Taterchick]

Thanks for the quick response. These are my first chickens and I have never had a problem before. I think my ladies may be getting a bit bored being in the henhouse most of the time. It is cold here and I haven't been able to let them out in their run to get some exercise. Maybe that is why they are pecking each other? What is Blue Kote and where do I get it? Tractor supply? Vet?

 

[justusnak]

Being locked up...is it possible they are over crowded? To help with boredom....take a few heads of cabbage...or a nice zuchini(sp?) Put a rope through it, and hang it from the ceiling. This will keep them busy for a while, and hopefully stop the pecking. Blue Kote...you can get at tractor supply. Good luck with it. Why can't you let them out in the run? Mine go out, cold..snow...and when they get too cold, they go back inside.

 

[Taterchick]

I thought it would be too cold. I never let them out when it is below 20. It is only 10 degrees here now and windy. I guess you are probablly right. They can just go in if they are too cold. I am going to go get some cabbage and zuccini today. That does sound like fun for them.

I am relatively new to this and I guess I am guilty of thinking like a human not a chicken. I don't want to go out in this weather... but maybe they do! I have to say I am so glad I found this site! Everyone has a great deal of insight and information!

The hens were doing better and I tried to put them back out in the henhouse last night. When I went out this morning, one was fine but the other was bleeding again. I brought her back in, cleaned her up, and hopefully she is going to be OK when I take her back out in a few days. Maybe I'll keep her inside for a week to make sure she is healthy.

 

[sunnysidecluckers]

Could you be having a problem with mice or rats? I have heard that sometimes they come in to coops at night searching for food and nesting material and sometimes they pull out feathers from the chickens and cause damage to the picky area. Some chickens don't realize this is happening.

Just a thought

 

[Taterchick]

Nothing can get in the henhouse. I went a little crazy with security when I built it last summer. The thought of something killing my "feathered babies" made me a bit overprotective.

 

[sunnysidecluckers]

How is the poop of the chicken with the red butt? I had one that was like that it was a round circle about the size of a half dollar.
This hen was fond of roosting in the nesting box and I was wondering if it was from the contact of the butt and the poop while sleeping which caused irritation. I cleaned it off with some soap and water and put some ointment on the area and it cleared up after awhile on its own and the feathers grew back.

 

[All my hens are roosters]

The white crust makes me think they may have mites. It would depend on what it looks like exactly.

As for the cold, once they are beyond chicks, mine are fine outside - they are cold, but they deal with it and huddle together inside if they are too cold.

 

[Taterchick]

Both chickens are doing fine now. I think the white crust was just poo that was sticking to their patoots. I have been making sure that their bottoms are clean and the bluKote has worked like a charm in reducing the others pecking. I think their bottoms appear less red and bloody which was attracting the bully of our henhouse...Darth Vader.

Maybe we shouldn't have named her Darth Vader because she has been a bit mean ever since!

I have been letting them out to peck around in the run every day. They seem happier!! Yeah! I love this forum!!! Everyone gives great advice!

Thank You