[ali2]

We bought two pol new chickens the other day and one today has bit of a mucky (whiteish) feathers around her bum...did notice one of the  nesting boxes was had quite a wet patch which I think she may have been sitting in.... and have read that some chickens can suffer stress when introduced to new flock that may affect their pooh for a while ...is this right?

[izzy]

could just be a change of diet

[Sassy]

It will be a good idea to clean her bum - soak in warm wate, clean  and dry with hair drier. It is possible for them to get fly strike with dirty bottoms (flies lay eggs in dirty feathers and hatched maggots will start to eat the chicken) :blink: Sorry not nice but better safe than sorry.

[ali2]

Thanks Sassy for that advice ...realise what is happening now ...she spends the night in the nest box which is quite poohy in the mornings so guess it's because she is sitting on it all ...more underneath her than by her vent....strange how newbies get pecked during the day on and off but quite happy to share the nesting box with the older ones all night ...leastways they start off together that way at bedtime. !!

[chasechicken]

We have the same problem with non-perching hens.  Especially in hot weather it's essential that she's kept clean just to prevent fly strike.  You may find she starts using the perch soon, or if not you could try sneaking in at night and lifting her out of the box and onto the perch.  This sometimes works apparently...