Two hens look like they have a sore bottom...

[jodievaughan]

This isn't an emergency but I'm unsure what's causing it so I'd like to ask for help!

Earlier today I found a very small amount of mites on my pygmy goats, so of course then checked the chickens for mites too. I have 3 hens, two are very friendly but the other is VERY quick and anxious and there's no way of getting hold of her unless you get her in the night. On the two I could check, I found absolutely no parasites, and no eggs, but noticed beneath their vents they were looking reddish and kind of sore, especially at the base of the feathers. I've read here in other threads people also tend to notice feather loss, but this doesn't seem to have happened to my hens.

The thing is I have trimmed their feathers beneath their vents before, as they've got poo stuck there in the past and I didn't want it staying there and causing infections/attracting bugs. I'm now wondering if the redness might be caused by the trimmed back feathers when they're sitting down and that sort of thing, or if it might be parasites/bugs of any kind. I'd really appreciate some advice.

I've already put Smite powder on the two hens I can get hold of this afternoon, cleaned out their shed and used Smite disinfectant and Smite powder in there too. I've also sent off for a worm count, though I feel like this issue won't be related to intestinal issues, but I haven't had this issue before and it won't hurt to find out anyway. If there are any more precautions you'd recommend taking, please let me know!

 

[coach723]

It does sound like it could be mites. Some mites hide in the coop and only come out at night when they are roosting to feed on the chickens. You will need to check at night with a flashlight to see if you find any of those. Here is a good link with pictures to help identify them and also some treatment options. http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/
I'm not familiar with Smite products, so not sure if it's ingredients that would be effective.
Another possibility is that they are picking at each other, maybe on the roosts. In that case doing some observing may answer that question. Feather picking can be caused by over crowding, boredom, or not enough protein in the diet.