One of my girls has always had a poopy bum

[Nicky S]

One of my girls (Dottie, 11 month Wyandotte) always seems to have had a bit of a poopy bum. She was on antibiotics recently and I think it's made it a bit worse, though her poops are now back to normal. Do some birds just have poopier bums than others? (There's a sentence I never thought I'd ask ). How's the best way to clean her up? When she was at the vet they commented but didn't think it was an issue when I said she's always been a bit poopy since she got her grown up feathers - as a chick she was just like the rest. Could there be something wrong? If so I'll move it over to the diseases forum, but for now I'd like to get her cleaned up so I can monitor whether it's getting worse.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

I have a few girls that have that trouble too. My brahmas don’t have this trouble unless I worm them. 2 of my midnight majestic marans do. I’m not sure exactly why but I read too high amounts of protein can be one reason.

I have to cut feathers back and clean my messy girls sometimes.

 

[Nicky S]

I have a few girls that have that trouble too. My brahmas don’t have this trouble unless I worm them. 2 of my midnight majestic marans do. I’m not sure exactly why but I read too high amounts of protein can be one reason.

I have to cut feathers back and clean my messy girls sometimes.

Oh dear, she goes crazy for the grubblies so maybe that's it The other 4 girls are fine, it's just Dottie. Do you wash your poopy girls or just trim the feathers? If you wash them, how do they handle bath time?!

 

[aldarita]

Does she free range and has access to grass and bugs as well as dirt? The antibiotics surely messed up her natural gut bugs so it's good for her to reestablish what she lost. I do butt baths when needed. They seem to like them after they go thru the shock of being place in a pan half full with warm soapy water, they get rinsed afterwards with another pan of clean water and then dried with a towel, finally they go out to get their feathers dried in the sun.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

That is Sweetie too! She love the worms and bugs so I’ve suspected that might be her problem.

I trim their feathers right around the vent then wash them. I wash only their dirty area though. They are really good but I’ve always handled them a lot. They are all use to being picked up.

They aren’t happy to have it done though, so I do hold them with my left hand under them and their head where my elbow is. It’s almost like the way you see judges at shows pick up birds but the bird will be backwards. This seems to help keep them under control while I work with my right hand. Treats afterward help too.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

I should add that my other messy girl Miss Priss has some other issues. We just got through a very bad sour, impacted crop problem. Since that cleared she’s doing better.

 

[Nicky S]

Does she free range and has access to grass and bugs as well as dirt? The antibiotics surely messed up her natural gut bugs so it's good for her to reestablish what she lost. I do butt baths when needed. They seem to like them after they go thru the shock of being place in a pan half full with warm soapy water, they get rinsed afterwards with another pan of clean water and then dried with a towel, finally they go out to get their feathers dried in the sun.

Oh yes, mostly free ranging, they spend a great deal of time scuffing up my lawn . I've added probiotics to their feed, and tried a coconut probiotic yogurt, but she was the only one that didn't like it . I guess it's bath day for her, it'll be interesting for sure - she's very particular about how she's handled

 

[Nicky S]

That is Sweetie too! She love the worms and bugs so I’ve suspected that might be her problem.

I trim their feathers right around the vent then wash them. I wash only their dirty area though. They are really good but I’ve always handled them a lot. They are all use to being picked up.

They aren’t happy to have it done though, so I do hold them with my left hand under them and their head where my elbow is. It’s almost like the way you see judges at shows pick up birds but the bird will be backwards. This seems to help keep them under control while I work with my right hand. Treats afterward help too.

Ok, this'll be interesting Dottie is my only girl who hates being handled - she'll perch happily on my arm, but I put I get serious wing whip to the face if I picker her up...so weird as everyone was handled a ton from babies, but Dottie has always been rather special. She likes to contemplate things for extended periods of time

 

[Chickeeaholic]

Bath time should be an interesting thing for her to contemplate

 

[Chickeeaholic]

And maybe you will need safety equipment?