Mucky bottom

[Jen O]

Hi I have 2 Sussex Lights (and some others) and one of them has a mucky bottom or skirt. She seems fine in herself and is eating and laying. Is there a reason for this or something I can do to help clear it up.
Any advice gratefully received.
Jen

 

[Marigold]

Hi Jen, sorry to hear about your mucky hen, poor girl. How old is she, when was she last wormed with Flubenvet, what colour are the droppings, and is her crop OK? ( ie not bunged up with hard stuff, or else not soft and squidgy.)
She may have some kind of gut infection, especially if her droppings are green, and if this is so, a course of antibiotics may be indicated. Or, if not wormed in the past 4-6 months with Flubenvet, she may have a worm burden which is affecting her digestion. If her crop is Impacted, or if she has sour crop, she wont be digesting her food properly. Hens can actually be feeling under the weather a bit, but try hard not to show it, so if anything is abnormal its good to take it seriously before it gets worse.
If you could give a few more details, a better picture would perhaps emerge.

 

[Jen O]

Thanks for the reply. She does not have an impacted crop and it's difficult to see which are her droppings. Not sure what a sour crop is. She is just over a year old. I have started Flubenvet this morning as this could be overdue for them all. Will try and get a pic today and upload. I will let you know how she gets on. thanks Jen

 

[Marigold]

I think you are wise to get the Flubenvet up to date for all of them, especially after the hard winter they've been going through, and this may well make a difference. Even if there are other problems as well, a good worming may help to improve condition for all of them. I expect you know that they must just be fed treated food for the whole week, no other 'treats,' so they get the full dose. If she doesn't get any worse during this week, you will be able to observe her and see if her droppings clear up. Can you keep her washed and maybe clip away some if the feathers round her vent, if these are copious? Then you'll be able to see if she is getting better day by day.
There's a link on Poultrykeeper website about sour crop here http://poultrykeeper.com/digestive-system-problems/sour-crop and a good ideo on YouTube where a man drains the crop of an affected bird, shows how to do it.
And more about worming on Poultrykeeper as well if you use the Search box.