pasty butt on laying hen?

[Theda's Mom]

Hi, My girls have just begun to lay and one of them, the Light Brahma, has developed what looks a lot like pasty butt. Her vent appears to be clear (the goop is further down on her hind end), but is this normal for first-time (or anytime) layers? Other than the unsightly mess on her behind, the hen seems perfectly happy and healthy.
Thanks, Susan

 

[okiechick57]

bumped this up for you, I have one with same thing.wondering what IF anything I should do?

 

[silky ma]

I have seen it on a few of my silky hens who have alot of feathering. I just clipped it off checked for any infestations . I have had a few hens who get lazy and poop in their broody box. Make sure that all are not stressed, have enough boxes to lay in- even though they may all seem to want the same box at the sam time.

 

[hencackle]

My laying hens don't have actual pasty butt, but the ones that get mated frequently have a strip of dirty feathers below their vent. I'm thinking that the excess "rooster juice"

traps dirt. The hens that aren't laying or aren't favored by my roosters have nice clean fluff below the vents.

 

[CarriBrown]

I have one hen that has always had a poopy butt, even when she was a little baby. Her vent is never blocked, either, but her feathers are full of poop. I just give her a bath in the sink (with gloves on, yuck!) and then blow dry her butt! She really seems to like it. You'd have a real problem if her vent was being blocked, but since it's not, just keep on her and clip some of her feathers so they don't stick as bad.

 

[Theda's Mom]

Thanks, everyone. This is helpful. I'm headed out of town tomorrow on a business trip, but I'll relay your suggestions to my husband--who will be thrilled, I'm sure!

Susan