Wrong place at the wrong time

[HappyHenHomestead]

Buffy my Buff Orpington must have walked under the roost at just the wrong moment at some point today. She has a HUGE wet blob of chicken manure on her back right where her back feathers meet her big Buff Orpington winter butt fluff. It looks like she is missing feathers also. I am not sure if she is being over mated by Prince Phillip, if she or other hens were pecking at the spot (no sign of injury) or if this is just a case of matting of those fluffy type feathers. It is super cold here in Vermont and I didn't feel like it was a good idea to try a damp cloth and it was getting dark. I left her as is but am wondering what other chicken owners do in this kind of situation. I have watched her grooming and have seen that she tidies this part of her feathers and am wondering if she will be able to fix such a mess!

She doesn't like to be separated from the flock so I rather dread stressing her by out bringing her indoors and trying to bathe her tomorrow and get her dry.

Funny thing about chickens. Just when you think you have things figured out, they throw you a curve ball...

 

[Alaskan]

If it is a huge pile of poo matting her feathers together... even I (I am on the chickens are livestock side of the fence) would bring her in..

wash her with dawn or a baby shampoo.. blow her dry, give her a bit of scrambled eggs, and carefully look over that spot to make sure there is no injury and see if she needs a chicken saddle.

 

[Alaskan]

Just the thing is in cold weather... matted feathers means she might not be able to stay warm.....

 

[HappyHenHomestead]

Thanks for the links to cold weather care and for the advice and support.

This morning, she or they had cleaned up the offending area. There is an area of missing feathers but it is dry and uninjured and protected by her wing. She is her normal self. I do think an apron is a good idea. Whether the missing feathers were caused by over mating or not, I think it a vulnerable spot.

I will do some searching here, but if you have any advice you wish to share about aprons or related care, feel free to chime in. I am rather wondering how to get an apron on single handed. I might be able to get a neighbor to lend a hand, though.

Again, thanks for being here!

 

[Mrs. K]

I did not have good luck with aprons, the hens hated them, and within days they were off. I have read that they can keep the birds from preening an area, so that lice can get started.

I think she has taken care of the problem. I would leave her be.

Mrs K

 

[Alaskan]

I had great luck with saddles... but I bought mine years back... so I can't give a link.

I had a few girls that definitely needed that area covered.

I bought one that covered more area that had elastic around the wings as well as one elastic around the neck. That one was a bust... the elastic around the neck caused over preening in that area.

The rest I bought were "standard" saddles with elastic around the wings. I had 3 girls that had gotten feather damage due to over mating ... the feathers hadn't been fully pulled out... just busted.. the area was a little red, and in late winter was enticing to the rest of the flock. (Still full snow, nothing green).

The saddles were perfect in this situation, and the 3 girls had to wear them for a few months until the next molt.

They worked great.

BUT, in your case... since the area is completely hidden by her wing...

I don't think a saddle would help anything.