poopy butt

[gretchen]

I have noticed that a couple of my gals get poop stuck in their soft fluffy butt feathers... it seems to get cleaned off in a couple of days, I always assumed that they cleaned their butts of with their beaks while roosting. I have one hen who doesn't just have a little dribble but two full large (about walnut shell) sized formed poops hanging off her little feathers. I tried soaking the poops in a warm damp washclothes (like when they were pasted up chicks) but I couldn't seem to make a dent in them and she was none to pleased with me either. Should I let her figure it out or should I try to cut them out?
She can still poop, they aren't blocking her up just hanging off her feathers. it's also cold and snowy here so I don't want to get her too wet washing her off.

 

[nccatnip]

If you can handle the chickens, why not just trim the area with scissors? Clip away some of the feathers and see if that helps.

 

[MissPrissy]

You can trim her butt fluff around the vent and see if that help if it really bothers you to see it. If it is big yucky poops I would trim. Fecal matter is a breeding ground for bacteria and disease.