4 week old w/inflamed vent - other chickens picked at - graphic photo

[MiniDriver]

Any suggestions appreciated! We found this chick among my b-i-l's flock that he had picked up at the feed store about a month ago. The others have been picking at her, and she has a very inflamed and infected vent.

The bare skin is wet and leaves a white trail on anything or anyone she sits on.

She also has some bare skin around her neck.

We're keeping her isolated from our flock and away from my b-i-l's chicks. I don't think it's contagious, but I don't want to take a chance

We've wiped her vent and the bare skin with some hydrogen peroxide, and plan to put a bit of bag balm on her vent. Do you think that will be ok? Any other suggestions?

Thanks so much!

 

[llamagirl]

I'm new to this and sorry about your troubles. I hope someone will help. Not sure about peroxide but, have seen putting it in warm bath with epsom salt might help with cleaning it and shrinking swelling.

 

[CATRAY44]

I would look closely for signs of lice... small piles of white clumps at the base of the feathers around the vent. If it is there, you can treat with Sevin dust. You would powder the chicken, around the vent and under the wings. 10 days later, repeat to kill any offspring. You would want to treat the others and dust the coop, as well.
Hope this helps or that someone else has some insight, if I am incorrect, but that is what it looks like to me.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Some Blue Kote will help with the picking. You'll want to clean it first and use gloves with the Blue Kote unless you want really blue hands for a week.

 

[MiniDriver]

Thanks! We'll try the blue stuff.

Cattray44, is it likely she has lice and none of her sisters do? none of the others are showing similar symptoms.

I noticed she also doesn't squat to pee and poop - that's probably because her vent hurts, but it also means she has a trail of pee and poop all down her bum. Poor girlie.

 

[barnwife]

I had a chick end up like this when she got pasty-butt. Teh other chicks picked her clean (eeeew!) and then kept picking...

I did the epsom salt soak and dusted her with diatomaceous earth just in case. It took about a week for all symptoms to clear up of dipping twice a day for a few minutes. Now she is my only chicken who will sit in the pan of water I leave for the ducks!

 

[MiniDriver]

Quote:
Ooh, that's good news. We've already dusted her with DE, hoping that will help.

Thanks!

 

[Hens_And_Chicks]

I think you could use Preparation H to help shrink the inflammed tissue and help it heal. I'd probably skip the Bag Balm for Blue Kote though.

 

[MiniDriver]

She stinks to high heaven, and oozes diarrhea. She's eating and drinking, which I guess is a good sign.