EMERGENCY VERY INFECTED VENT

[georgieboy11]

This is awful, one of my grandmas silkie hens has a severely infected vent. It smells terrible and I don’t know how long it’s been like this. I just soaked her in warm epsom salt water and put peroxide and neosporen on it. It looks too far gone to help but I’d feel awful if I didn’t try. She is still running around and eating and drinking I don’t know how.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Wow, I personally never seen one this bad before but that dont mean much. I havent seen tons of them.
@Wyorp Rock

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Dear Lord. I am stumped on this. @azygous @casportpony @Hen Pen Jem Could you guys help?

 

[abraga]

Wow..i can't tell what happened..like a prolaspe..yeast..or pecked...but..id get her on a good broad spectrum antibiotic right away. Peroxide can burn the tissue..probly some warm Epsom salt soaks would be best.

 

[georgieboy11]

Wow..i can't tell what happened..like a prolaspe..yeast..or pecked...but..id get her on a good broad spectrum antibiotic right away. Peroxide can burn the tissue..probly some warm Epsom salt soaks would be best.

Where could I get antibiotics for her? Thank you

 

[abraga]

Best bet is the feed store. Not one close..go to a pet store and get fish tetracycline..or oxycycline

 

[georgieboy11]

Best bet is the feed store. Not one close..go to a pet store and get fish tetracycline..or oxycycline

Is this what you mean?

 

[abraga]

That'll work

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings georgieboy11,

Is the chicken able to poop? If so, are the poops solid?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings georgieboy11,

A vet should be consulted in order to give the hen the best chance for survival. But, if that is not possible, and you are willing to try, then here is my opinion.

It appears that the hens vent has been partially cannibalized, but if she is able to poop successfully, and you can attend to her medical needs daily, she may survive. The fact that the hen is eating and active, is encouraging. She may heal with proper and consistent care.

This is a challenging case for even an experienced keeper. The biggest challenge will be in maintaining cleanliness in the area, to prevent infection. Administering a broad spectrum antibiotic orally or IM, along with applying an antibacterial ointment or spray is also needed. Tetracycline, doxycycline, Tylosin (Tylan), and Enrofloxacin are broad spectrum. My choice is Enrofloxacin (Baytril), but it has to be prescribed by a vet here in California.

What will happen during healing?
The missing tissue will eventually be covered by granulation as the body attempts to replace skin cells.

Granulation tissue - Wikipedia
Granulation tissue is new connective tissue and microscopic blood vessels that form on the surfaces of a wound during the healing process. Granulation tissue typically grows from the base of a wound and is able to fill wounds of almost any size.

Your wound care routine for the next 10 to 14 days:

• Maintain the cleanliness of the wound during healing.
• Use a sterile saline solution in a sterile squirt bottle to flush the wound, then gently pat dry with a sterile piece of gauze.
• Apply a thick layer of antibiotic ointment to provide a barrier from bacteria.
• You should also trim any feathers that could get into the wound.
• Administer a course of antibiotic for 10 days, orally or IM. Dosage depends on what you are using.
• Keep the hen separated from the flock till completely healed.

Chickens can heal from the most horrific wounds and the most intense infections with the right care, and more importantly...an attentive keeper.

If you work all day and can't care for the chicken, or don't have someone you can trust to care for the chicken, then euthanize it. Don't take on something that you can not do.

The first 3 days will be hectic for you and critical to the chicken. Later, we should discuss how this happened.

These are the things I would do, if I was caring for this chicken. I hope this information is of some help to you.

Other members will have advice, please consider them too.

God Bless and peace to you.