When is a poopy butt a problem?

[EmmaDonovan]

Some butts are poopier than others, I know. Usually they come and go as the hens clean themselves but one has had a poopy butt for six days which is unusual. The poop doesn't smell unusually bad, it's just poop. No changes in feed. She is moving, eating, drinking, behaving normally. She allows me to pick her up, we routinely handle the hens every day. Her crop empties and nothing on her feels hard or full, she feels normal. I don't know if she's laying as we have several breeds that lay similar eggs.

 

[townchicks]

It becomes a problem if the poop blocks the cloaca, preventing her from pooping. It can also drawn flies, resulting in fly strike, (maggots) in raw or irritated skin around the cloaca. You can wash her butt, or trim the feathers to help prevent buildup.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I don't mind cleaning her up, poop is poop, chicken, dog, or horse, I'm fine with that but I know she's not going to like it. I'll take her into the bathroom and dim the lights so it won't seem so harsh. Maybe I can play some relaxing music and light some scented candles for her.*

*I'm kidding, I won't do that, I know scented candles aren't good for birds and we don't own any anyway because they're also bad for my asthma.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Follow up: gave her a bit of a soak in some warm water with a little Epsom salt. A lot of the poop came off and I just wiped off the rest. Her vent looks fine. She's pooping normally and her butt is still clean today.

She didn't react badly. The dimmed lights helped because she couldn't really see around her to find a place to escape to. She just sat there looking confused and then kind of resigned herself to the situation. Other than my bathroom smelling a like wet chicken for a bit, it was a success.

I played a little Laurence Juber for her, too, I like to think he helped us both out.

That song is called "Snowflake In My Pocket." I had the pleasure of meeting Juber several years ago at a conference. In addition to being very talented, he's quite down to earth and gracious, and he told us the story behind the title.

His little daughter had a hamster named Snowflake who disappeared one day. She was understandably upset so he drove to a pet store to get her another hamster. He laid his jacket on the seat next to him in the car. As he drove, he noticed something in his jacket was moving. He pulled over and looked in the jacket pocket and there was Snowflake! His daughter was happy and a song was born.

 

[merchickia]

Follow up: gave her a bit of a soak in some warm water with a little Epsom salt. A lot of the poop came off and I just wiped off the rest. Her vent looks fine. She's pooping normally and her butt is still clean today.

She didn't react badly. The dimmed lights helped because she couldn't really see around her to find a place to escape to. She just sat there looking confused and then kind of resigned herself to the situation. Other than my bathroom smelling a like wet chicken for a bit, it was a success.

I played a little Laurence Juber for her, too, I like to think he helped us both out.

That song is called "Snowflake In My Pocket." I had the pleasure of meeting Juber several years ago at a conference. In addition to being very talented, he's quite down to earth and gracious, and he told us the story behind the title.

His little daughter had a hamster named Snowflake who disappeared one day. She was understandably upset so he drove to a pet store to get her another hamster. He laid his jacket on the seat next to him in the car. As he drove, he noticed something in his jacket was moving. He pulled over and looked in the jacket pocket and there was Snowflake! His daughter was happy and a song was born.

Aww, what a cute story, thanks for sharing!
How is your chicken doing now?

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I had a particular breed with short legs, wide bodies and heavy weights. Three of these girls routinely had spa days every 1-2 weeks to clean butts, feet, preen assist and so on. They have all died now- they loved spa days. No candles tho, just me humming away while I worked.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Aww, what a cute story, thanks for sharing!
How is your chicken doing now?

Doing fine with a non-poopy butt. I think she still hasn't laid an egg, though. Maybe she's just taking a break.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I had a particular breed with short legs, wide bodies and heavy weights. Three of these girls routinely had spa days every 1-2 weeks to clean butts, feet, preen assist and so on. They have all died now- they loved spa days. No candles tho, just me humming away while I worked.

Did you do anything in particular to get them to love their spa days?

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Did you do anything in particular to get them to love their spa days?

Not really. I think they were relieved. I did warm water with lavender epsom salt and a cool blow dry. Coconut oil foot and leg rubs- they were prone to bumble foot so digging out debris from their fat foot folds probably felt good.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I like the coconut oil leg and foot rub idea! I should give that a try. They don't have any issues but they might enjoy it.