dislaney Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Hi all - one of my Columbines Avril is a lovely looking girl. She has a topknot and a very heavily feathered bottom, with much longer rear end feathers than the other girls. However, she struggles to keep her bottom clean, and I'd noticed over the past two weeks what looked like a big blob of yuk accumulating just under her vent. With the husband's help this evening, I washed her rear end with warm water, then cut the hard solid lumps away - they seemed to be just hardened poo with small feathers attached. Is this normal for long-bottomed girls? She doesn't seem to have any problems laying , and doesn't smell infected at all. The skin underneath the clump was nice and clean, and undamaged. Perhaps we just need to keep an eye on her and give her a 'bed bath' every once in a while? As always, your help and advice is appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poached Egg Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Our Orpington has fluffy knickers and gets the same problem.As long as there are no other issues an ocassional trim and wash when required should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 My son's cream created Legbar gets dirty knickers, when she is in lay. She has just come into lay for the third year and her previously clean knickers are just starting to show a little dirt. I do keep her clean regularly to avoid fly strick, I soak her bum in a bucket of warm water, rub her dry and that is that. She is my only CLB and the only one who has this problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Is she sleeping in the nest box and getting them mucky? Other thing is worms? Mine gets yucky when laying peculiar eggs. Like you I just wash and blow dry and send her on her way. My orp as well gets bits stuck but I snip them off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 My 5 year old Light Sussex gets a dirty bottom when she is in lay, she is fine during the winter, so I think it must be her hormones, she has lovely healthy plumage elsewhere, so we wash her and trim her vent feathers in the summer so that she can keep herself clean more easily. She has been like this all of her life, she has just come back into lay for her 5th season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 If her worming treatment is up to date , then all should be well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dislaney Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 Thanks everyone - very reassuring! Yes, worming treatments are up to date and no, she doesn't sleep in the nest box, and she seems to be in permanent lay throughout the year, even during a partial moult. I guess we'll just have to get into a 'wash and blow dry' habit with her, to keep her dirty knickers in order. Happy girl now - looks all fresh and clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 I find sometimes it's the food that causes it, Fran has had dirty knickers ever since we have had her, I did a little research and have now put them on Garvo - now more dirty knickers! I think it's the fiber content that can make a difference and also some chicken feed haves fillers etc that becomes excess energy and makes their poos bigger and messier. I'll dig my research file out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Mine are on Garvo but I still have one with a dirty bottom; she has very kindly pulled out the bottom feathers from the other four so they don't have that problem . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 There might be something in to high or too low in Garvo for her, of she gets more treats, It is trial and error. My first lot did well on Omlets own food but the next lot didn't. So far the youngsters are ok on Garvo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Maybe add some bokashi to her Garvo if you think it's her feed. Should firm up her, eh, poo. Alli x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 What a lovely word "clumpy" thankfully my girls are clump free at present but been there. Now "lumpy bottom syndrome" I could start a new thread on Nesting box - I am an expert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
