poopy vent

[maeklucky]

is there any way for me to convince my poor hens that I'm not in fact trying to hurt or harass them when I go to help clean the poop stuck to the feathers on their vent??? I haven't had to do it often but it's been more than twice now with one specific hen and she is always so distressed about it

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Hi, what you can do is get a Rubbermaid with a lid, cut a hole out in the top of the lid for the head, fill with water up to butt level and put one hen in the tub and poke her little head through the hole and let her soak there. This will soften the poop. You can also put a bit of dawn dish soap in the water. You can also cut a hole for your arm, and you can squish the poop around (sounds gross, but you gotta do what you gotta do....) The poop should disintegrate as you try to get it off with your fingers.

 

[maeklucky]

Yeah, I've seen that before does that work pretty well??? Like do the chickens typically respond to that pretty well??? I feel like she might pitch more of a fit if I pick her up and put her in a tub full of water lol but I obviously haven't tried it before. I already feel bad because the poor hen is getting pretty well plucked by the roosters, and here I am messing with her.