Piled up droppings?

Nov 6, 2020
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Midwest US
Hello,

Has anyone experienced droppings sticking to their chicken's vent feathers? We have some very fluffy chickens and a few are experiencing this. We don't think it's vent gleet because it just looks like normal droppings piling up. Just wanted to double check with others to make sure it's not a serious problem. Thank you.
 
Well, it's unsanitary. In the summer, it can invite a serious problem called "flystrike." Flies are attracted to the poop and lay eggs. The maggots hatch and start eating the soft flesh of the bird's vent. This time of year, there aren't any flies (yay!).

One suggestion is to give the bird a soak bath to dissolve/soften the crusted poop and get it off the feathers. Another possibility is to -- carefully! -- cut the chuck off with scissors. If you go the bath route, trimming the feathers can be a good preventative measure anyway; some chickens have a lot of floof back there that catches stuff, and once some gets stuck, more sticks to it on the way out. Also, if you get the bird wet at all, dry her with a hair dryer on low before she goes back outside.
 
Well, it's unsanitary. In the summer, it can invite a serious problem called "flystrike." Flies are attracted to the poop and lay eggs. The maggots hatch and start eating the soft flesh of the bird's vent. This time of year, there aren't any flies (yay!).

One suggestion is to give the bird a soak bath to dissolve/soften the crusted poop and get it off the feathers. Another possibility is to -- carefully! -- cut the chuck off with scissors. If you go the bath route, trimming the feathers can be a good preventative measure anyway; some chickens have a lot of floof back there that catches stuff, and once some gets stuck, more sticks to it on the way out. Also, if you get the bird wet at all, dry her with a hair dryer on low before she goes back outside.
Thanks! We trimmed a chicken earlier in the year and were successful; we'll try that again if necessary. In the warmer months, we'll do baths too.
 

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