Poo on butt

[helkat]

We have 4 hens (with 15 chicks on the way, woohoo) and the two black ones always have a bit of white stuff around their vents. They don't seem sick in the least bit. I picked up one of my roos yesterday and did a quick check of his skin for anything moving/crawling, but saw no sign of anything.

We have never dusted for mites or wormed.

Is it just normal on black hens because of the contrast or is there something wrong?

Thanks!!

 

[Judy]

Is it urates from poo, or what? Have you checked for mites/lice at night off the roost? What is their feed, treats, housing, bedding? Free range, run, or what? Grit or oyster shell offered? How old are they? If they are laying, is there any decrease in eggs? When you pick them up, do they seem "thin," as in, lightweight, or with a prominent bony keel?

Some hens do get poo sticking to their butts, particularly the really fluffy butted ones, but that is usually all the colors in the poo, not just the urates, and no, it's not just the black ones. What color are your others? Are you certain they don't have it, too?

If they are truly hens, over one year, and you have never dusted for mites or lice, I would be very surprised if they have none at all.