Poopy butts - do I bathe in cold weather?

[Titania207]

Hi there - last night when I was checking my hens - when their behinds were basically eye level - I noticed that my 3 plymouth rocks have poop clumped around their bums. Their vents are not blocked and look fine though. I also have 3 austrolorps, who also have pretty fluffy bottoms, who do not have this issue. They are all about 8 months old. I live in Maine and it is currently upper 20s and snowing (and will continue until late tonight). My friend who has chickens in the south advised me to wash them inside but I am worried about them coming inside where it is 65 and then going outside again. I know there are swings in temperature anyway but they are not quite as sudden as walking from inside to outside. I dont think I can bathe them tonight but I could probably try to do some trimming once they are up on their roosts for the night -- then again it is cold and I dont think I should remove feathers. If I were to bathe them it probably won't be until tomorrow. I am new to chickens and a little worried about my little dears.

Any advice?

 

[Tookie]

I would not bathe them, I'd just trim some of their feathers off.

 

[Titania207]

Ok thanks for your input, Tookie! Appreciate it!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I would not bathe them, I'd just trim some of their feathers off.

Gah, that's a brilliant idea. I've been having the same issues thanks to the hellweek a few weeks ago that Kickstarted their poopiness