Mucky bum, messy feathers - all clear today

poultrygeist · « **on:** May 08, 2008, 19:37 »

Noticed this evening, one of ours has got a mucky bum, with matted feathers all round her vent. I've given her a bit of a wash with a wet towel but not helped a lot and I've given them all a bit of bio yoghurt in the hopes it helps with any upset tums.

Also noticed some soft brown poo in the coop.

What course of action would you suggest ?
eg. worming or wait to see if it clears up ?

Also how best to clean her up ?

Thanks.

Rob

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #1 on:** May 08, 2008, 19:55 »

Clean her up. I've done it with a bowl of warm water with a few drops of baby shampoo in. Tuck the chook under your arm with her head facing backwards and hold her legs still. You've then got a hand free to bathe her. Leave it mucky and she'll become a target for pecking.

There are loads of reasons she could have the runs. Is it just her ? ry putting her on to a bland diet of just pellets, I guess that means all of them on just pellets - They won't be pleased :roll:

Keep an eye on her for any other symptoms.

poultrygeist · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2008, 19:58 »

Ta for that. Only her at the mo. Better get her cleaned up before bedtime.

Will keep you posted.

Was the yoghurt a good idea ? Gave about 2 dollops between the 6 of them.

They were fluben'd about 2 months ago.

Rob

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2008, 20:02 »

Quote from: "poultrygeist"

Ta for that. Only her at the mo. Better get her cleaned up before bedtime.

Will keep you posted.

Was the yoghurt a good idea ? Gave about 2 dollops between the 6 of them.

They were fluben'd about 2 months ago.

Rob

The yoghurt is fine you can mix it with a bit of rolled oats, it's quite good fpr soiding things up.

poultrygeist · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2008, 20:14 »

Job done. She's now more beige than brown so we'll see what happens overnight.

We're both very busy at the mo so it's hard to keep an eye on them apart from the odd check up.

Just shows how things can develop quickly if you take your eye off them.

Thank again.

ROb

chicksforkicks · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2008, 23:50 »

One of mine has had a mucky butt for a couple of weeks. i just leave her a lone and dont worry :oops: because shes at the top of the pecking order and is the biggest one.

poultrygeist · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2008, 09:50 »

I don't like to take chances with ours Chicksforkicks. There seems to be frequent power challenges and something like this could cause an all out war !

All seems to be clean today so hopefully just a worm past its sell by date or something.

Thanks for the advice.

Rob

kimT · « **Reply #7 on:** May 09, 2008, 10:14 »

Hello

I am new here but have had poultry for a few years now. I always put garlic cloves in the water and this you will find is good for the gut and helps with those sloppy poo's!

Bodger · « **Reply #8 on:** May 09, 2008, 10:33 »

The best way to clean a poopy bum, is to quite literally take the scissors and trim the feathers around the vent. The feathers will grow back of course and by that time the problem will of course hopefully have been solved.

poultrygeist · « **Reply #9 on:** May 09, 2008, 11:07 »

Thanks Kim. We did have garlic in the water but keep forgetting to get a new bulb. Must remember next shopping trip.

Bodger. I cleaned her up to a sort of beige tint last night and she seems remarkably white this morning. Not sure how she's managed to get so clean unless dust bathing would get the remainder of the muck off.

Keping an eye on them all but hopefully they'll be ok.

I didn't fancy weilding scissors near her nether regions in case she suddenly struggled. Have to get blunt ended ones. :shock:

Rob

peggyprice · « **Reply #10 on:** May 09, 2008, 13:27 »

Quote from: "poultrygeist"

We did have garlic in the water but keep forgetting to get a new bulb.
Rob

You need those environmentally friendly long life sort ...

poultrygeist · « **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2008, 14:31 »

Do they come in large edison screw ?

(OMG, jokes about light bulb fittings :shock: I need to get out more.)

rob

kimT · « **Reply #12 on:** May 09, 2008, 14:59 »

I also rub fresh garlic cloves along my perches and it helps get rid of the red mite..............evil little b's!

Ok the hen house smells like an Indian take away for a day but hey ho!

poultrygeist · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2008, 16:40 »

Mmmmm. Chicken Tikka. Sorry, bad taste. :oops:

I'm looking every day for mites and so far have seen nothing but I've never seen one (only pictures).

Are they obvious when they appear ??

Rob

kimT · « **Reply #14 on:** May 09, 2008, 17:23 »

The red mite are grey in colour and they feed off the bird at night and they are then full of blood.

This is what they look like.

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