Poopy butt on a pullet?

[ErikaRI]

Hi all,
Our chickens are about 7 months old. One started laying a month ago, another (our Polish Top Hat) started laying about 3 days ago. (The other two are still freeloading.)

Twice in the past week (a week ago and then again today), we've noticed that our Polish has a lot of dried poop stuck to her rear. The first time, we were able to knock most of it off and just do a little trimming of the feathers and down back there. Today there was a lot, and we ended up having to trim quite a bit off.

My questions: is this something we should worry about? And is there anything wrong with trimming her back there when we need to? My main concern is that it's getting cold at night, and I don't want her getting cold/sick because we've accidentally taken off too much down.

(And here's a picture of Tallulah.)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some chickens just have poopy butts. I wouldn't trim too much off because if the other chickens can see skin they may start to peck at it. Chickens need to squat properly to poop cleanly. So your hen may not be taking the time or just doesn't do it well. Sometimes they have looser droppings too.

 

[Stayc]

I have a hen who is a lazy pooper and always has poopy butt! When i bring her in to clean it i always check her vent area as I've read the constant poopy butt could be a sign of prolapse. So far no issues with her. I just trimmed her backside yesterday. Hoping for the best with that. Shes a white hen so it kind of stands out and looks so gross but its never been a health issue, thankfully. Best of luck with yours

 

[chuckachucka]

Have you seen if her poop is normal and solid? Often they get messier when they have been getting diarrhea, which could indicate something wrong with her health. If her poop is normal then it's nothing to worry about but you are right to trim off any excess feathers around the vent and clean the area if it gets bad, especially when the warmer weather comes around again.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I have a hen who is a lazy pooper and always has poopy butt! When i bring her in to clean it i always check her vent area as I've read the constant poopy butt could be a sign of prolapse. So far no issues with her. I just trimmed her backside yesterday. Hoping for the best with that. Shes a white hen so it kind of stands out and looks so gross but its never been a health issue, thankfully. Best of luck with yours

Why is it always the white ones? I have the same problem, LOL!

 

[ErikaRI]

We definitely don't get down to skin level! Only enough so that it's not in danger of getting even more stuck.

Some chickens just have poopy butts. I wouldn't trim too much off because if the other chickens can see skin they may start to peck at it. Chickens need to squat properly to poop cleanly. So your hen may not be taking the time or just doesn't do it well. Sometimes they have looser droppings too.

 

[ErikaRI]

"Lazy pooper" will make me laugh all night.

This one is actually black, so it isn't "always" the white ones! But it stands out on the black ones too, blecch. I think her health is fine--she just started laying and her eggs look good. She's sort of ADD, so she probably just is moving too fast...

I have a hen who is a lazy pooper and always has poopy butt! When i bring her in to clean it i always check her vent area as I've read the constant poopy butt could be a sign of prolapse. So far no issues with her. I just trimmed her backside yesterday. Hoping for the best with that. Shes a white hen so it kind of stands out and looks so gross but its never been a health issue, thankfully. Best of luck with yours

 

[NNYchick]

One of my Silkie is like this too. I’ve been watching her close because she is my only one with poopy butt but she is healthy, eating and laying fine. I thought maybe my deep litter is too deep for her as it is better when she is able to get out on the yard and forage. But the lazy pooper makes sense she is also my one that always seems to have a muddy face too because she can’t seem to drink without getting her whole face wet them goes over to the dust bath area and wipes it in the dirt. So she is dirty at both ends.

 

[Stayc]

Why is it always the white ones? I have the same problem, LOL!

My only white hen too. Something to keep us busy i guess

 

[Stayc]

"Lazy pooper" will make me laugh all night.

This one is actually black, so it isn't "always" the white ones! But it stands out on the black ones too, blecch. I think her health is fine--she just started laying and her eggs look good. She's sort of ADD, so she probably just is moving too fast...

My hen is also fast. Her name is chase and i save her for last if i have to catch them.