Dirty Bottom!

[OverWyreGrower]

I have some 15 week old Welsummers (3 cockerels and a hen), and noticed today that the hen has a very dirty bottom...

Her poo seems to be quite runny and as Welsummers are very fluffy underneath, it's made quite a mess.

I wiped most of it off, and set her down; but she doesn't seem to be quite right.

She is preferring to stay away from the boys and be inside the house on her own; and doesn't seem bothered about food/grass etc. However, her tail is up (her comb is still very pale, so not a good indicator of anything)

I was going to move her at the weekend to the 'big girls pen' along with my ex-broody (who is now back in lay), rather than introducing her on her own.

I'm now wondering whether being with a pen full of boisterous young cockerels (who aren't treading or crowing yet) is causing her problems.

I can seperate her now, but she will be on her own until the weekend, or I can let her in the big pen, however, the youngest birds in there are about 17/18 weeks old (welsummer/cream legbar crosses) and there are 11 other chickens in there (plus ducks).

Help!!

[Scarlet]

What colour is the poo? Are you feeding too many greens?
Pale comb and mustard colour poo can indicate worms

[OverWyreGrower]

They are on grass and growers pellets - I'm not feeing any 'extra' greens at the moment.

Her comb is pale cos she is still quite young, the female Welsummers seem to have very pale combs until they come into lay - my 17/18 week old one has the same colour comb.

Didn't think to check the actual poo colour - will check in the morning and dose up with flubenvet if needed...

Thanks!

[Scarlet]

I think too many slugs can cause runny poo....

[RichmondHens]

Deffo worm her and the others, and check for lice too. she's likely to be happier with her male sibs than new hens so keep her where she is for the moment. If she deteriorates then isolate but within sight of sibs.

Apols for shorthand typing - have just had shoulder op and can only use one arm!

[OverWyreGrower]

Thanks! They'll be wormed at the weekend, and I did a check for lice and mites last night, but they were all clean...

She was perky last night, but down in the dumps again this morning...

I did an extra shake of red mite powder last night just in case. Don't think it's that though, as the house was re-creosoted 2 months ago...

[Suechooks]

Perhaps they're partying too much and she's hungover!?

[Allotment Nerd]

Young hens will do that..party..little sleep..too many slugs...its a dangrous cycle.