I remember that this topic was discussed before, but I can't find it. Also, I looked at the sticky with the web sites that offer information on raising chickens, searched a bunch of them, but can't find what I'm looking for.
What does it mean, and what is to be done about it, when a hen has dirty feathers around her vent area? The chickens all seem to be in good health, very active and eating well. However, my chickens do not like pellets or crumbles, (they get plenty to eat, however!) so I am wondering if their diet has something to do with the dirty feathers or if it is some other problem. And how can I tell?
Chickens with messy vent area
I just read about this on another site. They recommended washing the bottom off and when dry putting a dab of baby diaper rash on it, not much because zinc isn't good for chickens to ingest (they might eat some while preening). The chicken on the site I read about had a kidney infection (at first they thought it was gleet) and was put on clavamox antibiotic and fed yogurt, and raw apple cider vinegar in the water.
I washed off the bottoms of my chickens and used J&J diaper rash cream on them. I'm hoping the dirty bottoms were caused by the amount of junk (excessive amounts of fruits & veggies) I fed them the last few days (bad habit but they are so fun to feed because they eat everything and appreciate it so loudly). If not, then I'll get the antibiotics.
Hope your girl's are back to having clean bottoms soon.
Thank you for the helpful info Annie. My chickens also get lots of fruits and veggies, so maybe that is why they have dirty bottoms then? I got pellets for them yesterday and will only give them that for a while and see if the problem goes away. They didn't eat much today - probably still hoping I would come around with stuff they like better. They're a little bit spoiled....
Isn't it easy to spoil them? They're so happy and grateful for treats LOL
I didn't wash my hen, I only had one doing that and she was getting the same feed as all the others.. It never got on her egg, and wasn't bad enough to worry about. I wouldn't change their diet or hold back on "goodies" especially if it's fruit and veggies!
Well it turned colder here so I didn't wash my hens either. I am thinking that I may need to grind up some of the laying pellets and mix them with the fruits, veggies and bread. They don't seem to be eating them even though they must be hungry - stubborn critters! They have been eating the grass to the ground rather than eat the pellets.
If ya want to feed them pellets or crumbles, just only feed them that. Don't give them anything else but the feed and water. They will get hungry enough to go see what you are feeding them. I am putting extra lights ( just a string of 50 xmas lights) inside the henhouse to prolong the lighting dept...During the cold weather, my chickens get warm oatmeal and homemade poultry blocks or cookies to snack on..lol...they also free range everyday and get locked up at nite time.
Yep, I've been told to have "tough love" and make them eat the pellets like you said. The warm oatmeal as a cold weather treat is a good idea. I'm gonna try that. Thanks