Poop buildup below vent on hens

[HennyPenny44]

I’ve had chickens for 2 years and recently realized that they build up a lot of poop below their vent. I didn’t know until I inspected them closely and saw the amount of dried up poop stuck to their butt feathers. Three out of four hens needed a bath so I gave it to them promptly. That was about a month ago.

Now I’m looking at my hens’ butts again and the poop is building up again. Do I need to keep giving them baths? They all have fluffy butts but nothing unusual. The one who is clean underneath is a Black Australorp and I’ve seen her bend her head back to clean her backside. She has a long body and seems to be able to reach. But I thought all chickens do this regardless of build. Do I need to trim butt feathers? I’m scared of cutting through skin.

 

[Pepperthechicken]

Our chickens had the same problem but we cut them and the poopy feathers have not returned. I advise cutting with 2 people, one to hold it, the other to cut.
Cut in small amounts instead of all at once to minimize the chance of cutting them

 

[DuckDuckSook]

We had the same problem and I trimmed the butt feathers and all looks so much better now. It is a 2 person job, as stated above. My daughter held the hen and I cut all the poopy feathers.

 

[Aapomp831]

Same! I just did a poopy butt feather trim last week. Worked like a charm.

 

[HennyPenny44]

Thank you for all the replies. Ok, I will have to enlist the help of my husband who believe it or not, hasn’t petted or held a chicken before. How often do I have to give my chickens a fluffy butt cut? It just boggles my mind how people with a lot of chickens or chickens who don’t let you handle them manage that...

 

[aart]

How often do I have to give my chickens a fluffy butt cut?

Might take one or two trimmings until stuff stops sticking.
After that once a year after molt is completed.

 

[HennyPenny44]

Might take one or two trimmings until stuff stops sticking.
After that once a year after molt is completed.

Ok, that sounds doable. Thanks.

 

[ReelFaster]

Great thread/info as I think this is happening to one of my hens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you need to you can try doing it solo. Takes a little practice but once you get it done it's really no slower than doing it with 2 people, assuming your birds don't run away from you.

I put each bird on a platform that's around waist high, then I put my left armpit over their wings and back to hold them in place, and use my left hand to grab the tail and lift up (for the older, fatter ones just lifting up on tail is enough, they're too lazy to escape). Right hand has the scissors. I quickly trim any obvious poopy bits and any spots under that where poop tends to land, and then let them go. Takes me about 2 minutes a bird, and that includes nabbing them.

 

[HennyPenny44]

If you need to you can try doing it solo. Takes a little practice but once you get it done it's really no slower than doing it with 2 people, assuming your birds don't run away from you.

I put each bird on a platform that's around waist high, then I put my left armpit over their wings and back to hold them in place, and use my left hand to grab the tail and lift up (for the older, fatter ones just lifting up on tail is enough, they're too lazy to escape). Right hand has the scissors. I quickly trim any obvious poopy bits and any spots under that where poop tends to land, and then let them go. Takes me about 2 minutes a bird, and that includes nabbing them.

I figured there was a way to do it solo. Will do that when no one’s available. My husband has agreed to do it. I think the chickens are finally growing on him.