Butt problems on Rd Island red

[Mwrutledge]

My Road Island Red hen had a butt bath 4 days ago because she had poop on her rear. Today she had it again so she got another bath. I found her vent is red and it didn't look like this the other day. I am new to flock raising but I am not sure this is normal. She is eating, drinking and still getting along with my others. Not yet laying eggs she was hatched easter weekend. Is there something wrong? And if so what can I do? Thanks for your help!

 

[Sara Ranch]

IMO, the outside of the vent looks normal color. There's still a bit of poop on it.

I don't know about the darker pink color inside the vent. Someone else will know.

 

[Mwrutledge]

IMO, the outside of the vent looks normal color. There's still a bit of poop on it.

I don't know about the darker pink color inside the vent. Someone else will know.

Thanks. That is the part I'm worried about.

 

[Sara Ranch]

How old is your hen?

Is she currently laying eggs?

Have you recently treated her (or the coop) for worms, cocidius, mites/lice, or anything else?

Does she take dust baths?

 

[Mwrutledge]

How old is your hen?

Is she currently laying eggs?

Have you recently treated her (or the coop) for worms, cocidius, mites/lice, or anything else?

Does she take dust baths?

Not laying. Hatched around easter. Dust bathes daily. There is sand in their coop. No health problems

 

[Sara Ranch]

One more question....did you hold open her vent to take the pic? When I look at my chicken's vents, sometimes they talk to me (creepy to see them pucker in and out) but I have never seen the insides.

Someone should be along in the next few hours to provide some info for you.

As for the dirty vent....trim the feathers around it. She seems to have loose stools. (Loose stools are a sign of cocidius and worms or a respiratory infection - BUT it doesn't mean she has anything.)

 

[Mwrutledge]

One more question....did you hold open her vent to take the pic? When I look at my chicken's vents, sometimes they talk to me (creepy to see them pucker in and out) but I have never seen the insides.

Someone should be along in the next few hours to provide some info for you.

As for the dirty vent....trim the feathers around it. She seems to have loose stools. (Loose stools are a sign of cocidius and worms or a respiratory infection - BUT it doesn't mean she has anything.)

No she was as you say "talking to me" ha ha. I was just holding up her wet feathers.

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like her vent is kind of loose. Whenever she strains, she may have a partial prolapse. As long as it goes back inside, there is no problem, and I would ignore it. Prolapses can occur with egg laying and other causes, and if the prolapse tissue (the cloaca) gets stuck outside it may swell or dry out which can cause the internal tissue to dry out and die. I had a couple of hens who would mildly prolapse if I picked them up and they struggled, but their's would return to normal when they were relaxed. The problem when the red tissue comes out, is that it can attract other hens to peck at the tissue and damage it. Here is some reading about prolapses:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic.html
https://www.beautyofbirds.com/Prolapse.htm

A mild prolapsed cloaca--photo by armorfirelady

 

[Sara Ranch]

See? Not even a full 35 minutes later and an expert provided more information!

Thanks @Eggcessive!