mud all stuck in the feathers

[Newbie345]

hey so has this happen to anyone my leg horn got mud completely stuck in her feathers and I mean big patches of it she got a lot of it out and with the help from the flock but I did give her bath because it was so much I live in Virginia more south where it rains a lot and I'm wondering how she got it stuck so bad because no one else in the flock had that problem. Anyone deal with this before and if so any tips to give? Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like you may need to get some sand and fill in some holes or confine the chickens to areas where there more grass. We all have rainy seasons and more mud conditions at times. Is the coop in a spot where there can be some work done to redirect the water? Pictures of your setup might help. Is your leghorn being chased or accident prone? They can be more flightly than some breeds.

 

[Newbie345]

It sounds like you may need to get some sand and fill in some holes or confine the chickens to areas where there more grass. We all have rainy seasons and more mud conditions at times. Is the coop in a spot where there can be some work done to redirect the water? Pictures of your setup might help. Is your leghorn being chased or accident prone? They can be more flightly than some breeds.

Not really the coop.is to big to move and they usually dirt bath in this one area under bushes we have. No she is actaully the pack leader shes the most dominant out of all of them. This is the first time its ever happened and I looked in my yard to see maybe if there was something yucky she got into but I couldn't find anything. There free rage also so the whole back yard we just let them out and be we don't have a run.

 

[Isaac 0]

Not really the coop.is to big to move and they usually dirt bath in this one area under bushes we have. No she is actaully the pack leader shes the most dominant out of all of them. This is the first time its ever happened and I looked in my yard to see maybe if there was something yucky she got into but I couldn't find anything. There free rage also so the whole back yard we just let them out and be we don't have a run.

If you don't think it was because she got into mud, what might have happened, is she defecated, which subsequently got some of her vent feathers wet, she then took a dust bath which caused the dirt to stick to the surrounding wet feathers. This can sometimes build up over time and lead to more problems.

That said, you may trim the affected feathers around her vent. Note I said "affected", don't go bare trimming around her vent, as that may cause her feces to fall directly onto/around her vent which can cause loads of problems. You have to find the middle-ground.

 

[Newbie345]

If you don't think it was because she got into mud, what might have happened, is she defecated, which subsequently got some of her vent feathers wet, she then took a dust bath which caused the dirt to stick to the surrounding wet feathers. This can sometimes build up over time and lead to more problems.

That said, you may trim the affected feathers around her vent. Note I said "affected", don't go bare trimming around her vent, as that may cause her feces to fall directly onto/around her vent which can cause loads of problems. You have to find the middle-ground.

Thanks for that info ! But the bath seemed to do the trick! I dont think it was her going to the bathroom because it was under wing feathers I mean it was all over so im thinking she got wet and then did a dust bath and it all just stuck but I bathed her and she seems fine and looks better so im just gonna keep an eye on her.