Poop build around lower feathers - 24 week Barred Plymouth Rock

[Montana-Hens]

I have a happy and what appears to be health flock of 4.

My BPR has a problem that when she poops a little of it seems to catch in her lower Fluff feathers and builds up. It is well under her vent. Her eggs are clean. I eventually have to clean her up.

I read here and thought maybe to many treats but none of the other girls have any like problems.

Food: My ladies are free range, supplement with layer pellets, free choice oyster shell, some left over produce most mornings (lettuce, carrots, parsley, tomatoes). At the time I close the coop the 4 of them split about 1/4 c scratch.

Water: inside and outside the coop

Poop: very normal formed

Laying: about 6 days out of 7.

Activity: active, dustbathing, clucking, I don't see anything wrong

Clear eyes, friendly, acts very healthy.

I am going into winter and don't want to worry about this.

She is as healthy & active as all the other ladies.

I am guess this is just her build, b/c she did not have this problem as a youngster. It started about the time she started to lay.

Any thoughts.....should I be worried, or should I just watch it and mark it up to her geography.

 

[EllyMae]

one of my hens is doing that, and now her eggs are coming out dirty no matter what. UGH. I posted a similar question a few days ago but it remains a mystery, lol. If you figure it out, let me know.

 

[speckledhen]

My Barred Rocks are especially prone to "poop rocks" in their petticoats. I just cleaned up one today. Not sure why, but it's mainly my Barred Rocks, though others seem to have the same amt of fluff or even more.

 

[JennsPeeps]

wonder if this could be addressed the same way as pasty butt: with Vaseline or oil on the vent area?

 

[speckledhen]

You'd have to put vaseline all over their fluff and then you'd have a REALLY disgusting mess, LOL. I just have to do "poopectomies" on most of my Barred Rocks. Lexie doesn't have that problem-after her really long, hard molt this past year, she never grew back lots of her fluff and has a semi-bare tush that may be permanent, LOL.

 

[Jenski]

First of all, Montana-Hens, I'd like to thank you for being so thorough in the information you provided. It really helps.

I have one hen who keeps a messy bottom as well, and in her case it is because she prefers to sit in the shavings at night instead of on a coop perch. You have obviously watched their droppings, and if there is no issue with color/consistency ~ and if all other behaviors/eating habits are normal ~ I would not worry.


speckledhen, I thank you for increasing my chicken vocabulary to include "poop rocks."

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
You're welcome.

Dont forget "poopectomy".

 

[annmarie]

My Barred Rock has the exact same problem! I think it's just a symptom of their excessively fluffy butts. Anyone have a good way to clean them up? Soak thier butts in warm water or something?

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

Our Ameracauna hen had this problem all her life until we got a rooster who took it on as his mission to clean her tush

Then she had a beautiful fuzzy butt for the remainder of her life...you just need to get her a good mate

It's like your hubby clipping your toenails while you are preg and can't see them! Maybe she's just not flexible enough to clean there?

 

[herechickchick]

My Delaware hen had this same problem so I just gave her a butt fluff trim with a pair of shears and she was good to go.