EMERGENCY VERY INFECTED VENT

[azygous]

@Hen Pen Jem has given a very thorough run-down. I would only add that there's a reasonable possibility that this very advanced bacterial infection has crawled up into her oviduct. If that has happened, you're looking at internal infection as well as the vent mess.

If this hen is not lethargic, isn't standing facing a wall with her tail down, has a good appetite, and as has already been pointed out - can poop normally in spite of the injury, there may be hope for her and it would be worth a shot at treatment.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, @Hen Pen Jem has given very good advice.

Just a question - the "yellow" around the vent, is that crusty, will it come off?

 

[georgieboy11]

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.

Thank you so much, that was exactly what I needed! I’m going to try my best to do everything you said to a t!

 

[georgieboy11]

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.

Is Tylan 50 good? I know there is a Tylan 200 too so I just wanted to ask.

 

[georgieboy11]

I agree, @Hen Pen Jem has given very good advice.

Just a question - the "yellow" around the vent, is that crusty, will it come off?

When I soaked her I wiped her butt with a paper towel and nothing would budge. Sadly.

 

[georgieboy11]

@Hen Pen Jem has given a very thorough run-down. I would only add that there's a reasonable possibility that this very advanced bacterial infection has crawled up into her oviduct. If that has happened, you're looking at internal infection as well as the vent mess.

If this hen is not lethargic, isn't standing facing a wall with her tail down, has a good appetite, and as has already been pointed out - can poop normally in spite of the injury, there may be hope for her and it would be worth a shot at treatment.

She has not been able to have a “normal” poop but she has pooped, it was not very normal though. It wasn’t unhealthy, it was normal colored brown and some white it was just squeezed into a skinny shape, it’s gross but I would compare it to the shape of a tiny dog poop. She is a little lethargic but when I try to catch her she still runs faster than me and she eats and drinks normally.

 

[casportpony]

Is Tylan 50 good? I know there is a Tylan 200 too so I just wanted to ask.

Those probably won't help.

 

[casportpony]

When I soaked her I wiped her butt with a paper towel and nothing would budge. Sadly.

You need to pick the yellow stuff off.

 

[georgieboy11]

Greetings georgieboy11,

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

She is able to poop and they are mostly solid, the brown part is solid but is squeezed into a long skinny shape, the white urates are a little runny.

 

[georgieboy11]

You need to pick the yellow stuff off.

I’m not sure how to do that, it isn’t like a scab or anything it’s like her flesh just turned yellow.