Chicken Vent Problem

[chicklover56]

Eggsakly & Wyorp Rock - Thank you both for the advice!

Harriet is doing ok today. I first cleaned around the infected area and then clipped the dirty feathers around it. I then soaked her in a warm bath with Epsom salt. I put some antibiotic on and around the infected area. I also gave her yogurt which she ate excitedly and an egg. She is in her cage with a heat lamp on her...
I noticed that we have hydrogen peroxide, would that help the wound at all or should I not use it?
Also, I already give her crumbles, should I grind them up more?
We do have some applesauce, I'll bring some out to her tomorrow.

 

[Eggsakly]

I would advise against using the hydrogen peroxide. It is painful on injured tissue. Yes, grind the food up more. I wrote that she should have extremely gentle foods at this time. Grind her food to a powder if possible, and mix with yogurt, soft fruits, etc. OR - soak her crumbles to make the food very soft. Soaking overnight is best, and two or three days is better. One of those two methods is much better than just feeding crumbles. Otherwise the crumbles will continue to irritate her current injury.

*As I wrote - I was able to stop my chicks pain immediately by taking the time to fix her food in this manner.* Your girl looks like she is in significant discomfort, and she needs all the help she can get.

The antibiotic ointment is great. Do get the hemorrhoid ointment also. It will shrink the swollen tissue and help her pass her food more easily. You can use both.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would advise against using the hydrogen peroxide. It is painful on injured tissue. Yes, grind the food up more. I wrote that she should have extremely gentle foods at this time. Grind her food to a powder if possible, and mix with yogurt, soft fruits, etc. OR - soak her crumbles to make the food very soft. Soaking overnight is best, and two or three days is better. One of those two methods is much better than just feeding crumbles. Otherwise the crumbles will continue to irritate her current injury.

*As I wrote - I was able to stop my chicks pain immediately by taking the time to fix her food in this manner.* Your girl looks like she is in significant discomfort, and she needs all the help she can get.

The antibiotic ointment is great. Do get the hemorrhoid ointment also. It will shrink the swollen tissue and help her pass her food more easily. You can use both.

I agree

 

[kealoni]

Does it feel hard all the way around the vent?

 

[chicklover56]

No, it is soft @kealoni

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is she doing?

 

[chicklover56]

She is doing a lot better, I just checked on her and reapplied some ointment. It is much smaller and I can tell she is feeling much better. Of course not amazing, but she is definitely on the road to recovery!

 

[Eggsakly]

Wonderful!

Keep it up, even if she appears immediately more comfortable. Stick with the soft food for at while. Hard food will set her back in the early stages of healing. If she bleeds at all and it is visible, the other chickens will be peck at her and injure her more. I kept my little chick on soft food for 3 weeks before I was comfortable allowing her to eat hard food again, which meant that she had to be kept separate. Now, she is my best layer!

Keep up with the ointment for a while also. My poor little chick would literally scream when she pooped before I began treating her, it was so painful for her.

 

[chicklover56]

Wonderful!

Keep it up, even if she appears immediately more comfortable. Stick with the soft food for at while. Hard food will set her back in the early stages of healing. If she bleeds at all and it is visible, the other chickens will be peck at her and injure her more. I kept my little chick on soft food for 3 weeks before I was comfortable allowing her to eat hard food again, which meant that she had to be kept separate. Now, she is my best layer!

Keep up with the ointment for a while also. My poor little chick would literally scream when she pooped before I began treating her, it was so painful for her.

Definitely, thank you for all of your help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad to hear she is improving