Chicken with dirty bum

[PhilBen]

Hi all,
I have a chicken that always gets a dirty bum. I have to clean it every 2-3 weeks. I am now treating with a wormer and have tried cutting back feathers and using vaseline etc but nothing seems to work any ideas ?

 

[Marigold]

Which wormer did you use, Philben, and how often do you treat your flock? When were they all last done?
How old is the hen, and what breed? Is she a breed with particularly frilly knickers?
After you've cleaned her bum, how long before you can see more mess? (Does it just gradually catch on her feathers and accumulate, or does it appear as an attack of the runs every now and then?)
What sort of mess is it? (colour, texture) What are her other droppings like - (Since you say you clean her up every 2-3 weeks, she's probably not got bad diarrhoea all the time?)
Does she roost on a perch, or in the nestbox or on the floor?
Are you using Vaseline because her bum is sore, in which case has she any evidence of lice or mites, or even feather-pecking from the others?
What are you feeding her, and how is her appetite? Does she go out to grass or just stay in the run on mainly dry food? Does she seem to drink a lot?
Any other symptoms? Are the other birds OK?
Apologies for so many questions, it was just some of the possible reasons for her problem that came to mind - if you could give a more detailed description of her lifestyle and symptoms, probably someone could come up with some suggestions.

 

[chrismahon]

Just to extend Marigold's list. We had the same with just one of our flocks. Three always had dirty bums and they were red raw with few feathers. We rubbed vasceline on them which made little difference and they were ulitimately separated from the cockerel. Three months later clean fuffy bottoms and no raw skin. Conclusion, the cockerel is rather enthusiastic, his aim is poor, the quantity large and very acidic.

 

[karminski]

i have a white leghorn that always has a dirty rear well feathers are always dirty its really yukky to look at and i wash her once a month at this time of year but more when its hotter as she really hates it but i cant work out why she like it 05 her skin and vent are always clear though i make sure i check each week as i got caught out by flystrike a few years back and i had to have my girl put down for it as i never even noticed it tell it was to late . but yep mucky bums aint pretty especailly on a white bird stands out a mile :lol:

 

[Chuck]

Sometimes, if you've not kept on top of them, there are clusters of lice eggs on the feathers round the vent which give the appearance of matted feathers. If it's not that, then I'd say she's one of many chickens that just are not able or willing to keep themselves clean round the back end. Bathe them and they look fantasticbut it isn't long before they're messy again.

 

[karminski]

thats one thing mine havent got is lice you get something once and it soon teaches you to keep on top of things espeacilly if your a beginner

 

[victorias poultry]

I have an orpington that always gets a dirty bottom, she is just a lazy girl that does not like to preen herself.