Help. Black necrotic area below vent.

[Miniwalls]

Hi all

My young hen who is less than a year old. (Norfolk grey) has a hard area below vent that is black and brown crumbly on the middle. It is really hard. She is not laying yet. Faeces seem normal but she strains. The vet has seen her they thought maybe trauma or injury. I got antibiotics but nothing helped. I have tried bathing her and putting vaseline on to see if it would loosen it off but it feels like its eating into her skin. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Where is the vent opening in the pictures? Is this down below the vent, and does the vent appear normal? Have you seen any maggots in the wound? I am worried if this is at the vent, your chicken has a prolapse that has been injured or pecked. Can you answer my questions, and I will say more!

 

[Miniwalls]

Where is the vent opening in the pictures? Is this down below the vent, and does the vent appear normal? Have you seen any maggots in the wound? I am worried if this is at the vent, your chicken has a prolapse that has been injured or pecked. Can you answer my questions, and I will say more!

Hi if you turn your phome to the right the vent is at the top its right above where the messy area starts. The vent doesnt look normal. The messy stuffs starts right at the opening and spreads down. I have not seen any prolapse.

 

[Eggcessive]

She is going to require frequent warm soaks to her vent in a dishpan or sink with Epsom salts or something like Dawn. Gently wash the area with a cloth, and rinse. I would use plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment on the vent twice a day. Have you ever seen other hens pecking her vent area? Are your chickens overcrowded? A predator might also have done this. Or it could be a prolapsed cloaca that has been pecked and injured since it is at the vent and below. Keep her away from any flies, which can cause maggots and flystrike. It is good that she has not started laying yet.

 

[Miniwalls]

She is going to require frequent warm soaks to her vent in a dishpan or sink with Epsom salts or something like Dawn. Gently wash the area with a cloth, and rinse. I would use plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment on the vent twice a day. Have you ever seen other hens pecking her vent area? Are your chickens overcrowded? A predator might also have done this. Or it could be a prolapsed cloaca that has been pecked and injured since it is at the vent and below. Keep her away from any flies, which can cause maggots and flystrike. It is good that she has not started laying yet.

Thank you. I have been bathing and some does come off so i will continue to do this. I only hace 4 hens and they have a large coop and run and outdoor area. No predators have got to them. I have not seen the others peck at her either. Ive only had them 4 weeks and i noticed this on week 2 so potentially something may have happened prior to me getting her. Where will i get the antibiotic cream? I did put canesten on today just incase it was fungal. Vet gave me baytril she did feel coaca and said she could feel like a lump and it cleared. So im a bit stumped. I initially though she was constipated but i have watched her pass and shes not. No maggots are on the area either.

 

[Eggcessive]

Savlon or Sudocream or other cream with chlorhexidene can be helpful. In the US we can buy neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment without a prescription. Petroleum jelly with chlorhexidene can be mixed into an ointment. Manuka honey or coconut oil may be used as well. Just in case this was a prolapse initially, here is a good article to read:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic/

 

[Miniwalls]

Savlon or Sudocream or other cream with chlorhexidene can be helpful. In the US we can buy neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment without a prescription. Petroleum jelly with chlorhexidene can be mixed into an ointment. Manuka honey or coconut oil may be used as well.

Many thanks. I have been putting petroleum jelly on to see if it will soften. I feel like its her skin and it will all come off. Will her skin regrow?

 

[Eggcessive]

The skin around the vent should eventually granulate in and come together. If she has vent damage, it could affect her ability to lay eggs and pass droppings because of scar tissue. Hopefully things will be back to normal. I am not a vet and have not seen a bad prolapse or vent damage. I do read a lit of threads here, and have a medical background. Let us know how she is getting along.