old hen poop problem..

[missychicky mom]

Hi all!
I have not been on for a long time but I have a strange question now...
We have a 4 year old Austrolorp hen named Austro. Austro has recently developed a problem when she poops. For some reason it is sticking to her feathers and creating a giant poop ball. I have to give her a bath about once a week to clean up the problem. She seems perfectly fine and not bothered by it... I am just slightly tired of giving her weekly baths to clean her up (although she cooperates well...). I am wondering if I could clip the feathers around her vent to prevent this problem or.....?
Thanks for the help!

 

[Eggcessive]

A thread I am on from time to time different people talk about their hens like this. I have a few too, and I have been trimming the poo off to where it is clean. This seems to be only one breed among many others in my coop.

 

[missychicky mom]

so, do you clip the feathers with the poo on them? I worry about hitting the blood vein... or is that on on the wings?

 

[PoultryPedia]

She could have E. Coli or something else causing the diarrhea.
I have a roo who has had bad diarrhea for months at a time sometimes. It cleared up once after I used Sulfadimethoxine in his water, after he'd had white-ish diarrhea getting stuck to him a long time.
Recently he was having yellowish diarrhea. I think I tried a Tetracycline med for a few days. After seeing no improvement, a couple days later, I gave him a few fresh cranberries (Canned would not be good because they contain sugar, which could foster negative bacteria), a little xylitol (which feeds good gut bacteria), probiotics, & a few other positive supplements for 3 days. He recovered! I was SO tickled!!!
Best wishes for your bird.

 

[missychicky mom]

Thank you- interestingly we just found out today that my daughter has a campflobactor infection ( I am misspelling that..). We assumed she got it from our new baby chicks that we got about 3 weeks ago.
Could Austro have a campflobactor infection? She seems to be fine....... should I medicate her?

thanks for the help-

 

[PoultryPedia]

Here's a thread on Campylobacter that might be helpful:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/404625/campylobacter-did-it-come-from-the-chickens

 

[missychicky mom]

Thank you- that was helpful. Since what Austro has is dried old poop.. and it is me who gets to clean her up

,,,, I guess Austro is ok. Looks like she is ready for another de-pooping session tomorrow, I am going to try and trim her floof back there as she has an incrediably fluffy butt,,,,,,
I switched the babies to medicated feed as we have had some runny poo from each of them, they seem fine but I want to make sure. My daughter is immune- surpressed and she hand tames her chickens so I try to be careful.

Thanks-

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes you can just trim off the dried poop and feathers--I've done it many times and haven't had any bleeding. I use little school scissors to reduce any injuries from points. Most chickens have campylobacter--it is the most common cause of food poisoning, so everyone should always wash their hands or use hand sanitizer after handling them.

 

[realsis]

I trim my chickens feathers around her bottom often. And sometimes I have to cut the poo out that became dried. It won't hurt them at all to do this. Good luck