Help, one of my hens has a messy back side

ReillyJ

Chirping
5 Years
Jun 12, 2014
163
7
76
Snohomish, WA
Posting some ugly pictures here, sorry about that, i had to take them with flash when she was on her roost as she not keen about me holding her but she developed this maybe a week ago, i had thought a broken egg was stuck to her backside when she was laying but the mess persisted and most of it is white, runny it seems and a red swollen area (vent? i'm new to chickens and these hens i rescued) and obviously she's not laying. She still eats, drinks and walks around with the other hens although sometimes she seems more tired, i have no idea whats' going on or how to treat it especially if she only lets me handle her on the roost. No vet around here :(



 
Ooh! Sorry! No experience with this, but maybe add a few words to your thread title about the red swelling, or whatever is descriptive of ... whatever she's got goin' on. Maybe someone familiar with vent wounds and issues will see it and know what to advise.

Are there any maggots in it? Saw a thread the other day about "fly strike," and maybe that's a part of your hen's troubles. And/or prolapse?

Wish you well!
 
I have a hen just started seeing this similar problem. For some reason I can't figure out how to post but I saw yor pic and your topic and was able to reply. I too have just noticed in last day or so, so I have no answers yet if I get one I'll reply. My orpington hen though started showing some dark feathers round vent and butt, it appeared to me a rookie like diarrhea now it's persisted a day or two and I snagged her up to inspect when I pulled some feathers back there was an irritated area and reddish bump protruding. I've noticed one of the Roos trying to mount an orpington here or there. There still young yet though? Like 16 weeks, none laying yet. Could they be tryig to lay or breed or a problem w maturing organs??? I'm on deep litter in a large coop and 90% of their days are spent in a run. Post any answrs u get as I plan to follow your post In hopes of some info
 
Ooh! Sorry! No experience with this, but maybe add a few words to your thread title about the red swelling, or whatever is descriptive of ... whatever she's got goin' on. Maybe someone familiar with vent wounds and issues will see it and know what to advise.

Are there any maggots in it? Saw a thread the other day about "fly strike," and maybe that's a part of your hen's troubles. And/or prolapse?

Wish you well!


Very sorry to hear about that!
I would swear it's prolapse -the red protrusion is a clear sign. I just had a young hen suffer with this over Christmas.

Here's a helpful link to treating prolapse (by washing and applying Prep-H):
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2014/05/natural-treatment-of-vent-prolapse-in.html?m=1

Though this page leaves out one crucial aspect that I used to help my hen. Over night, I'd recommend pushing the prolapse back in, putting clean gauze (lightly covered in Prep-H) over it, then wrapping a strip of horse bandages (or other stretchy wrap) under her wings and around her body to hold the prolapse in overnight. Keep in mind, this should ONLY be done overnight (so to minimize stress because she'll be sleeping.)

Also, when bathing her, spray a decent coat of Vetericyn on the prolapse, to minimize the risk of infection.

Try feeding her mashed food, scrambled eggs, and other easily-digested foods. (My hen survived mainly on mealworms :p)
Also, I'd add electrolytes to her water to give her energy.
Above all, make sure she's eating and drinking -whether by will or forcefeeding.


Hope this helps! Good luck to you and your hen!
Hopefully someone can also add to this and call out anything I'm missing and/or said incorrectly!
 
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Hey I'm not assured but have some
Confidence that my hen has something called vent gleet. Look it up if u can it may be what your bird has?? Vent Gleet and Prolapse seem to be the closest things I've found it could be.
 

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