Can I help me chicken's feathers stay cleaner?

[juliebugg86]

My chicken's feathers around their vent are soiled with dry excrement. This encourages lice and mites. how can I keep it clean? Is there another way other than a bath?

 

[TwoChicksChix]

You can always trim some of the feathers around their vent.

 

[aart]

My chicken's feathers around their vent are soiled with dry excrement. This encourages lice and mites. how can I keep it clean? Is there another way other than a bath?

I trim feathers with poop stuck on them to about 1/2" from the skin.
That may help subsequent poops from sticking,
and give you a chance to inspect the skin around the vent closely.

Do birds have juicy poops or are they just really fluffy butted?

Poop on feathers don't attract lice and mites, but they may attract flies,
and fly strike is something you don't want to deal with.