Dirty vent

[Trstuart05]

I just got a 4 yr old girl from a preschool yhat hatched her and kept her but wants to start fresh with new eggs so gave her to me. I am brand new at this. Ive had her 1 night. Her vent has white poop around it, and i am not sure but it sounds like she is occasionally sneezing. She also dug a hole amd sat in it. I really though she was laying an egg but she never did.

 

[Haihai]

You may want to bath her and clean her vent (what breed?) and are her eyes goopy? ... the digging of the whole is pretty normal as chickens like to dust bath, they actually love to do it and will find any way to get themselves one it's kind of funny to watch actually, it's the weirdest thing.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @Trstuart05 Welcome To BYC

Can you post some photos of the hen and her vent?
Where do you plan to house her and is she the only chicken you have?
How often is the sneezing?
Just to clarify - the hen is 4yrs old?
What type of food/treats do you plan on feeding her?

Digging a hole as @Haihai mentioned is normal it sounds like she was digging a dust bathing area. Giving her a clean up is a good idea too- this will also allow you to inspect her for any lice/mites that she may have and take a good look at the eyes and nostrils for any signs of discharge/mucous.

At 4yrs old she may not lay eggs, some hens stop when they get older or they can lay just a few a years - it really all depends.

The white poop around the vent - that's hard to know without seeing it. Could be that she has a dirty bum from transport, but she may also have something like Vent Gleet which is basically a yeast infection.

Look forward to seeing your photos.

http://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment-html/
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/09/vent-gleet-symptoms-causes-and-natural.html

 

[Trstuart05]

Her eyes look great, i read ti give her an epsom salt bath so i bought some, i also read to give her plain yogurt with wheat germ, she ate it yesterday but today not so much. I have no idea what she is. She is black with sheens of green really pretty. Thank you for helping me.

 

[pellegrinogirl]

She is an Australorp. I have one and they are wonderful; They are quite friendly birds! They have a beautiful sheen of iridescent green and purple to there feathers in the sunlight. Just FYI...chickens are very social creatures and need companionship. You might want to think about getting her a buddy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She looks like a Black Australorp (BA) to me

I have 2 that are going on 3months and so far are very sweet. Australorps have a reputation as good egg layers (brown eggs), friendly and docile. I have wanted some for several years, so I got a couple this year.

Since she is a BA she may very well churn out some eggs for you when she gets settled in.

 

[ChickieLinds]

She is an Australorp. I have one and they are wonderful; They are quite friendly birds! They have a beautiful sheen of iridescent green and purple to there feathers in the sunlight. Just FYI...chickens are very social creatures and need companionship. You might want to think about getting her a buddy.

Austrolops are the sweetest girls and great mother hens!
One of my favorite breeds!

 

[Trstuart05]

Awesome, thank you, she is very friendly, i am getting more, i have a friend who is moving to another state and has to put her house on the market so she is giving me her flock, she has like 8 or 9, but i was asked if i could take this one now by someone else before i got the pen up. This pen is for our goats we are getting. But i heard new nirds need quarantine just in case....so that was how i saw this time. Thank you for your help...i'm going to give her a bath today.

She is an Australorp. I have one and they are wonderful; They are quite friendly birds! They have a beautiful sheen of iridescent green and purple to there feathers in the sunlight. Just FYI...chickens are very social creatures and need companionship. You might want to think about getting her a buddy.

Austrolops are the sweetest girls and great mother hens!
One of my favorite breeds!

 

[Trstuart05]

Her eyes look great and no runny nose. She did poop in transport. We are getting more and hopefully in a week or two and will have a pen and housing for the, right now she in in out goat yard and barn until we get them.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her feathers are lovely.

I would give her a wash up and see if the poop collection continues. It may have just collected during transport. She may be a little stressed going to a new home, so keep an eye on her (like you already haven't)

I'm glad to hear you will be getting more. Some things to consider - it sounds like you will be getting an "existing flock" meaning the "new birds" will basically be friends and have a pecking order established - even if they are moved, they will still be fairly cohesive. Your BA is a lone bird and most likely will be viewed as an "outsider" - do some reading on integration to hopefully smooth the transition.