Sam Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Hi. I've had my chickens for around 3 weeks now, and recently I have noticed that one of my chickens has a really dirty bum compared to the others and wondered if it is a symptom of some underlying issues... As you can see, the one on the right is really dirty and I'm not sure if I should just clean it, or it means there is something wrong. Only one of my girls is laying, however one day there was an average sized egg and a smaller sized egg in the nesting box. I presumed that Matilda (the dirty bum one!) had started laying also and the next day I got another small sized egg again. But that was it from Matilda. Now I've just been thinking it could have been her that laid it, but has got ill and stopped laying. She is around 24 weeks old. Is it possible that one chicken laid two eggs in a day? Could she be ill? Am I just getting paranoid? Thanks for any help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 One of mine has a grubby bum too, they were wormed back in October with flubenubenvet (or whatever it's called) so will watch for replies too. I would like to pop her in the sink and give it a wash but I think it's a bit chilly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 I would worm her with Flubenvet but it's a good idea to wash their bums when they're like that. I pop mine in the bath, use a gentle shower pressure and tease all the gunk off. Any you can't get off can be carefully snipped off with scissors. All my girls seem to enjoy the shower followed by a blowdry in front of the fire . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 Okay I will worm them, not sure if they have been done yet so will buy some flubenvet. Is it best to worm them all at the same time? Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Yes, you add it to their food . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 Thanks Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here, do you have any idea where the cheapest place to purchase this from is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Seeing your pic reminds me of my 4 ex batts. They all had bare bums when we got them so we didn't notice anything at first, but as soon as they started to fluff up we noticed that Coco had a permanently dirty bum. I've since wormed them all and she is no different. We've had them since the beginning of July and they all eat the same diet and none of the others are like Coco. Have you checked what their poo is like from overnight? I have noticed that Coco does tend to have runnier poos in the daytime but at night they seem fine and I was told that if the night poos are all okay then there is nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 animal medic has it for @£15 + postage but they do feed and stuff too quick delivery if order over a certain amount it's free. Or try your local vets, or ascott, SPR centre in chichester has it (they also have a web site). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 You can read all about how to administer the Flubenvet here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 I'd worm her, treat her for lice (just in case as they are often a cause of dirty feathers) and give her a wash - keep her in a box indoors overnight to dry) Also check she isnt sleeping in the nest box! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 Also check she isnt sleeping in the nest box She is!!! I checked on them all tonight to make sure they are all securely locked in their eglu. Is there anything wrong with the fact she is sleeping in it? I always just presumed it was normal! I'm not sure if she sleeps in it every night but she was in it tonight. I will worm her asap. Thank you for all your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 After thinking about it... is it because the poo in the nestbox goes onto her feathers?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 After thinking about it... is it because the poo in the nestbox goes onto her feathers?! Thats it - she will be poo-ing overnight but of course the poo wont fall away from her cleanly a football or flower pot in the nestbox overnight will keep her out of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 I was getting really worried when you said about sleeping in the nest box, thought it might be something really bad!! Thank you so much for your help, I will try that tomorrow night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 I had never thought about the poo in the nestbox My 4 ex batts all sleep in the nest box and then my araucana sleeps on top of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jill the potter Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 I had never thought about the poo in the nestbox My 4 ex batts all sleep in the nest box and then my araucana sleeps on top of them Me neither...Tikka has always hada dirty bottom and she sleeps in the next box!!! Love the thought of stackable chickens though, does that mean we could get more in the eglu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydavies Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 I think it is hilarious when I see mine in a stack - so far I have only had three high, but I would take a bet folks on here have had much higher than mine Our hens make us laugh every day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
