Mucky bum

[CCUK]

I have two arucana hens that are about 5 months old. They have just started laying last week. They both have really messy bums.
The other one got a bit shy when I told her I was gonna post a picture of her bum and wouldn't come near me! So I couldn't get a picture. But she is worse. I haven't had this with any other hens when they first start laying. I feed them layers pellets, Corn and scraps once in a while. They have apple cider vinegar in the water every couple of weeks. So I'm at a loss as what may be causing it. Any suggestions?

 

[Chickassan]

My girls always get messier tushies when they're laying. I think it just comes with the territory. Non layers have lovely clean fannies.

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

Although hens do get a little bit of the coating (called the bloom) on their feathers when they are laying, messy bottoms like that (pasty manure) is not normal.

I would guess that it is some bad gut bacteria or parasites (which younger birds at the low end of the pecking order are often more susceptible to).
Late winter/spring is also high time for bacterial issues/worms (this varies on climate. Generally, more neutral/wet climates have a higher worm/bacteria load than more cold/drastic climates). My opinion would be to deworm them (if you haven't since you got them). Then, I'd put a little vitamin C (about 1 Tbsp per gallon) in their water and feed them only layer pellets for a month. I did this for my girls when they got messy bottoms and it worked effectively. However, I am not a poultry nutritionist... Plus, each chicken has its own little internal ecosystem and what worked in my circumstance may not work for other birds.

 

[CCUK]

Although hens do get a little bit of the coating (called the bloom) on their feathers when they are laying, messy bottoms like that (pasty manure) is not normal.

I would guess that it is some bad gut bacteria or parasites (which younger birds at the low end of the pecking order are often more susceptible to).
Late winter/spring is also high time for bacterial issues/worms (this varies on climate. Generally, more neutral/wet climates have a higher worm/bacteria load than more cold/drastic climates). My opinion would be to deworm them (if you haven't since you got them). Then, I'd put a little vitamin C (about 1 Tbsp per gallon) in their water and feed them only layer pellets for a month. I did this for my girls when they got messy bottoms and it worked effectively. However, I am not a poultry nutritionist... Plus, each chicken has its own little internal ecosystem and what worked in my circumstance may not work for other birds.

I wormed them with flubenvet last October. They might not have got as much as they needed. I might give them another course. I won't do them any harm. It has been rubbish weather here so they haven't been out so much. Plus some probiotic might help.

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

I wormed them with flubenvet last October. They might not have got as much as they needed. I might give them another course. I won't do them any harm. It has been rubbish weather here so they haven't been out so much. Plus some probiotic might help.

Yeah, my gals often get stressed when the weather is poor and I don't free range them. To much stress can lead to digestive imbalances. The probiotics sound like a good idea. I highly recommend 'Altech's 4 way Acid pak' (an animal nutritionist gave some to me). It is a combo of vitamin C + Probiotics. Not only do my girls love the taste but I used it to treat vent gleet (an internal bacterial overgrowth that caused messy, pasty manure in my RIR hen). Here is a link for the stuff if you're interested: http://livestockconcepts.com/en/livestock/219-acid-pak-4-way.html

 

[CCUK]

The weather makes sense. I have entrodex which I think is sort of the same as that altech 4 way. They do seem well enough. Both are eating well. So it may just be an imbalance. A bit of a boost will hopefully sort them out.

Yeah, my gals often get stressed when the weather is poor and I don't free range them. To much stress can lead to digestive imbalances. The probiotics sound like a good idea. I highly recommend 'Altech's 4 way Acid pak' (an animal nutritionist gave some to me). It is a combo of vitamin C + Probiotics. Not only do my girls love the taste but I used it to treat vent gleet (an internal bacterial overgrowth that caused messy, pasty manure in my RIR hen). Here is a link for the stuff if you're interested: http://livestockconcepts.com/en/livestock/219-acid-pak-4-way.html

 

[CCUK]

The weather makes sense. I have entrodex which I think is sort of the same as that altech 4 way. They do seem well enough. Both are eating well. So it may just be an imbalance. A bit of a boost will hopefully sort them out.

And a wetwipe!

 

[aart]

I'd cut back to just their main feed and plain water...
...see how things look after a couple weeks of that.

 

[CCUK]

I'd cut back to just their main feed and plain water...
...see how things look after a couple weeks of that.

I've added some vitamin c and pro biotics to the water today. I'll cut back on the morning sweet corn and greens for a while. They won't be happy but it is for the best. I'm going to worm them all starting this weekend after they finish a couple of days on the vit c. I've also trimmed some fluff from bums. It was getting really mucky. Poor little girls. They just sat on my knee and didn't move!

 

[aart]

I'd cut out all the extras and the supplements first.
I don't worm without either seeing worms or getting a fecal exam.