Dirty bottoms!

[Bobbiewickham]

Do any of your chickens have mucky bums?

Is it normal? Should I be worried and do I have to do anything about it?

do all of them have dirty bottoms?

it could be because they have worms - do you treat them?

it could also be because of something they ate that gave them the runs

it could be because they have been sitting in a poopy nest

do they have somewhere they can take a dirt bath?

Mine have dirty chests today but that's only because mr cockerel has been shagging them in the mud!

Yes,all of them; not hugely mucky, just dingleberries on the bum feathers, if you know what I mean.

We haven't treated them for worms yet - have never seen any evidence in the poo.

We clean them out regularly, so I don't think a pooey nest is the cause.

We feed them layers' pellets, so food shouldn't be a problem.

Maybe we should worm them. How do you do it?

Oh, yes, they enjoy having dust baths!

am not in the UK so can't advise on brands or anything but your local pet/livestock/farm type of shop will be able to recommend something, or hopefully some other chicken-MNetter will be ablong after the easter lull to advise!

garlic is supposedly great for worm prevention - I feed them it often

Flubenvet does for worming..
here

Yes, worm with flubenvet spring and autumn, give them a dust bath. If their poos are a bit splatty then lay off any treats. Keep an eye on their combs for colour (should be red if they're in lay).

Worming - you can either put it in with their food (following the measurements on the tin), or you can put a small amount on half a grape and give each chicken one individually. Think it's for 5 days. You can't overdose on flubenvet but if you do give them too much then you could lay off the eggs for a day or two. If you follow the amounts on the box the eggs should be fine.