Poop on hen rear end

[burbankchix]

Picked up one of my girls this evening and found her rear end caked with a huge ball of poop stuck on her feathers. I gave her a bath and got all the poop off, but her skin under the caking was red with irritation. Any ideas on what this is, or will I have a dead chicken in the near future?

 

[sylviethecochin]

It's likely she had a brief bout with diarrhoea (heat, diet change, random day of feeling under the weather) one got stuck, the others got stuck to it, and it progressed. Especially with fluff-bottomed girls, it happens more than you would think.

I'd put some lotion on the skin and leave her be. Just observe her for a couple days to make sure her new poop's normal and that she's acting alright.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Picked up one of my girls this evening and found her rear end caked with a huge ball of poop stuck on her feathers. I gave her a bath and got all the poop off, but her skin under the caking was red with irritation. Any ideas on what this is, or will I have a dead chicken in the near future?

Some hens are more prone to have poopy bottoms if they are extra fluffy. Trimming fluff may help. If she has a full-ish abdomen or is fatty the poop could also gather.
Getting a fecal float to rule out worms is always a good idea and checking for lice/mites.

If the skin is irritated from the poop, you can apply a little Hen Healer or Nu Stock to soothe the skin.

If she's acting normal/eating/drinking, etc., then I would not worry too much.