Omlet cube and run

[Chicken deficient]

Well, I've read all the poo stickies, looked at loads of pictures of the stuff and come to the conclusion that what my chickens are passing is completely normal. What is passed in the poo trays overnight is pretty much all solid.

However, some of my chickens still keep getting dirty undergarments. It is only ever among those that are laying, (except the hybrid who doesn't lay and always messes herself). The cockerel and elderly ladies always have immaculate rear ends. They are all in good body condition and I've seen no evidence of green yuck or blood.

 

Is it a consequence of laying that they can be a bit messy about pooing, or is something wrong?!

 

They consistently get fed organic layers pellets with a little afternoon mixed corn, have fresh water daily with acv for one week a month, free ranging time on short grass, access to mixed grit, get cleaned out regularly with stalosan added to the bedding in the covered run and I've ordered some bokashi bran to add to their feed. They are wormed regularly with Flubenvet and I've never seen any worms in their droppings after dosing them.

 

Should I be doing anything else? Or do I just have to continue with regular bottom baths and giving the hybrid a reverse, upside-down mohican?

[laurmurf]

grotty bottoms could be a sign of Northern Fowl mites, have a good look at the feathers near their vents to see if they are stuck together by something other then poo

[Chicken deficient]

One of the flock of ten has some whiteness at the base of some of the feathers around her back end - it looks a bit like cuticles that need pushing down. Otherwise, the only whiteness sticking feathers together is from urates in the droppings and I certainly haven't seen any mites crawling about, so I'm hoping it's not that. Thanks for the suggestion though - I'll add it to my data banks!