Molting illness or other?

[Puckaster]

Hello.
So I've just seen today my leghorn has an extremely muddy rear end. It looks as though she's dust bathed but the mud has form dread looks and is all matting in to the feathers. She looks a right state. This is my first year keeping chicken so Its all new to me. Is this molting or sign or some type of illness. Maybe its normal? The chickens are less than a year. 1 of my other has just been though molt.

 

[snow5164]

Try to find one of her poops , see if it looks normal .

She doesn’t look that dirty to me ... but if you separate her feathers there is the skin dirty? Is it poop? Or mud ?

You need to get right into it to find out what’s going on , but like I said it’s not a big mess from what I can see

 

[aart]

You need to get right into it to find out what’s going on

Ditto Dat^^^ ....Right down to the skin.

 

[coach723]

Agree with above post, a bit dirty, but not terrible. Could be runny droppings causing dirt to stick. Also when you look down to the skin, look for any sign of mites or lice.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

 

[Puckaster]

I've had a proper inspection and it's mud all in the soft feathers. The skin looks fine and completely clean. Not seen any mites or other lice and the vent is all clean. Poo is a little wet but not extremely. I think it must be molt as there's clearly a lot of feathers starting to come out. The feather are deadlocked with mud. It been so dry maybe it's just the first time they have mud bathed in damp soil along with molting.... was a bit concerned when I first saw her but think shes fine

 

[townchicks]

I think I'd try washing off the mud and see what's underneath. Something is causing the dirt to get wet, and if you are not getting rain there, I'd worry there is a cut or fly strike creating the moisture. It can't hurt to do a bath, as long as she gets dried off well after.

 

[snow5164]

Glad to here her skin is healthy @Puckaster some days our chickens can be pigs and they love to dust bathe in dirt especially when molting and regrowing feathers and they’re itchy ...

Have fun

 

[aart]

The skin looks fine and completely clean. Not seen any mites or other lice and the vent is all clean. Poo is a little wet but not extremely.

Great!! Always good to check.....
.....have had some bird look 'not so bad' on the surface with huge dried dingleberries underneath.

 

[Puckaster]

Had another check and I'm quite sure theres no hidden problems underneather so I'll just leave her to it now and keep an eye. Thanks for advise all.