Got her in August. Christmas day I noticed her limping. The next day took her to the vet who didn't find any injuries. Gave me 3 days of pain med & 7 days of antibiotics. She stayed in my garage. Gradually started moving better & by the 7th day was eager to move out. While in the garage she laid her 1st & 2nd eggs. She's over 9 lbs. She now limps a little but has a messy butt. It's been REALLY cold around here for the past 2 weeks. The skin under the messy butt is red. Any theories, suggestions......
Daisy
- Thread starter cat mom
- Start date
Can we get some pics of her vent please?
- Thread starter
- #3
I see two separate issues here. One is the limping. The other is possible vent gleet.
The fact she's still limping leads me to believe she's injuring her feet and legs as she dismounts her roosting perch. Due to her ponderous size, she should have a perch no higher than six to ten inches off the floor. Also be sure there is adequate bedding to cushion her feet.
The vent gleet, if allowed to accumulate, irritates the skin under the vent. The cause is an imbalance of flora in the gut. So the best course of action is cleaning the vent daily by bathing in warm water and mild soap, then conditioning the feathers with a human hair conditioner rinse. Blow dry.
In addition to this, to restore good flora and counter the yeasty condition of the intestines, give this girl a probiotic such as acidophilus every day until the condition is resolved.
The fact she's still limping leads me to believe she's injuring her feet and legs as she dismounts her roosting perch. Due to her ponderous size, she should have a perch no higher than six to ten inches off the floor. Also be sure there is adequate bedding to cushion her feet.
The vent gleet, if allowed to accumulate, irritates the skin under the vent. The cause is an imbalance of flora in the gut. So the best course of action is cleaning the vent daily by bathing in warm water and mild soap, then conditioning the feathers with a human hair conditioner rinse. Blow dry.
In addition to this, to restore good flora and counter the yeasty condition of the intestines, give this girl a probiotic such as acidophilus every day until the condition is resolved.
I second the vent gleet vote.
You've not stated what kind breed this is. Could it be possible that she's overweight?
You've not stated what kind breed this is. Could it be possible that she's overweight?
Not sure if it's advised or not, so someone please correct me, but i usually trim (sharp scissors) those feathers on my Orps' rear-ends. They just don't seem to angle their butts when they poop and it can tend to build up. Happens randomly, but my Orps are the worst offenders.
It's not so much the feathers that promote poop accumulation under the vent, but fat accumulation creating a "shelf" that provides an obstacle to smooth poop ejection.
Heavy breeds are more prone to this, but any older hen that becomes sedentary begins to accumulate fat tissue in that area. I have a few of these older girls that are foodies and aren't motivated to engage in activity that could keep their weight down. (Why does that sound so familiar?)
Heavy breeds are more prone to this, but any older hen that becomes sedentary begins to accumulate fat tissue in that area. I have a few of these older girls that are foodies and aren't motivated to engage in activity that could keep their weight down. (Why does that sound so familiar?)
hey! I resemble that remark!!! 
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