Ugh - how do I get it off her butt?

[portlandpeeps]

All my chicks have had this problem. I just bring them inside to the bathroom, run warm water in the sink, flip them onto their back so they calm down, then set their butts down in the warm water. You can rub their poopy feathers with a little soap too.

Of course, I've always done this in the summer, but this time of year you'll want to keep them warm.

 

[jacyjones]

I had this problem and was going to cut it off. I decided to try some sweet almond oil first. i spread it over the whole area and by the next day the poo had come off and there was no need to cut the feathers. Any mild oil is worth a try.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

I like my chickens, but there is no way that for cosmetic purposes, I am going to rub their butts with anything. To save their life, maybe....okay, probably... but just for looks? Nope.

 

[Lunachick]

chickensducks&agoose :

I like my chickens, but there is no way that for cosmetic purposes, I am going to rub their butts with anything. To save their life, maybe....okay, probably... but just for looks?
Nope.

I tend to agree, I noticed this same poopy situation on my hen's butts just today, on the lower feathers, not the vent and i thought - eeewww, what is that - lice or mud, it's just poop, Gad! They step in it all the time and I always thought my chickens were particularly dirty, but this is who they are.

I'm just glad it was poop not something else.​

 

[bigzio]

If one pays close attention to the hens without the fluffy butt, you will realize that it is a personal thing with specific hens. Hens with a less than desireable butt seems like they will always be that way, and hens with the clean fluffy butts always are always that way too.

Free range flocks can pick and choose what they eat. Seems like some of the hens eat too much of some foods that they like, but may give them runney poo.

Hens that never have a variety of diet, but still have this problem, seem to have some digestive problems, in my opinion.

bigzio

 

[FarmerDenise]

When this happens to my chickens, I usually try to rub it off with my hands. This usually works if it is dry and hard and not too big. I will also cut it off and or wash it off. I had a hen in the house til yesterday whose bum I had washed. It had been too cold to let her out so I waited until things warmed up a bit. She looks a lot happier without that heavy mass dangling from her rear. By that I mean that her comb is back to being bright red and not purplish. I am sure being in the house and being pampered had something to do with it.

 

[portlandpeeps]

Quote:
Wow, that is true chicken love!!

 

[jeannieo]

My BO had a poopy butt and I brought her in the house and sat her in a tub of warm water and washed it. I thought she would freak out but she was so calm, like it was something that happened every day! Then I figured when I turned the blow drier on her, that would cause a ruckus, but nope, she actually seemed to like it!

 

[magikchick]

One of my showgirls had it really bad so I washed her. Two days later it was just as bad again.

 

[curly_kate]

I just posted on an older thread, but I'll try here, too. I have a BPR with this problem. It looks like some of the white poop is kinda leaking out, even tho the brown stuff looks fine. I tried to clean her up (which she was pretty relaxed about, surprisingly), but it didn't do too much good. Her butt is still pretty nasty. If she's acting like she's fine, should I worry about it, or just let it go? I hate to think that I'm going to have to give her a bath every week. I saw people mention clipping feathers, but should I do that in the winter? Her back end already looks pretty bare with the feathers matted down.

I have 4 other chickens who look fine.