Hen has clear watery liquid dripping from vent/wet bottom feathers

[caralouise1974]

Not really an emergency, as this hen is perfectly happy, active and healthy in every way... except...

She's been laying for about ten days. Since the first egg, I've noticed her feathers under her vent getting damper and damper. Her vent itself seems lovely and clean, and she's laying perfect little eggs with no blood or fuss - she gets them out first thing in the morning in about ten minutes flat, to rush out and carry on eating, the greedy little thing!

This stuff on her feathers isn't pooey, or sticky, just damp with some thin watery fluid. I also picked her up the other day and a couple of drops of what one could mistake for plain water dripped out of her as I lightly squeezed under her tummy as I lifted her.

She hasn't missed a day laying for us yet, so I don't think she's eggbound. She'e eating like a horse, scratting around really busily, and being an otherwise very cheeky little girl. The only thing we need to get right with her is that she (and her buff orp partner in crime) insist on sleeping in the nestboxes, rather than perching like big grown up girls. Could this be causing her any problems or is it irrelevent?

Anyone got any ideas, or, as she's so spritely and active otherwise, should I not worry very much about it? I feel like I ought to clean her feathers a little if it gets much worse, but really, I've been thinking she's happy enough, so leaving well alone.

Thanks everyone xxx

 

[caralouise1974]

Any takers on this one? Or should I stop worrying?

 

[caralouise1974]

Anyone got any ideas yet? Would really really appreciate a supportive nod, even if it's 'calm down and stop worrying!'

Many thanks,
C xxxx

 

[6chickens]

Hiya, i dont have a clue what that could be. Continue to watch over her and maybe clean the back of her feathers up abit.

Sorry! hopefully someone else might have an idea!

 

[caralouise1974]

Thanks for the reply anyways 6chickens - nice to know someone's read my post at least! I'm going to buy some baby shampoo today and give her a clean up.

C x

 

[Brahmagirl]

I had a lovely little black cross-breed hen with exactly the same problem. Eventually the wetness would turn into a whitish deposit and I would bath her - about every 4 weeks. This only happened while she was in lay - as soon as she stopped laying in the autumn, the feathers under the vent were dry all the time. Sadly, in her 3rd year, about a month ago, I found her dead in the run - she had not come back into lay after the winter but had not appeared ill in any way. I had a look inside to see if I could find out what had been the problem - and she had a large fluid-filled cyst in her abdomen.

Try not to worry about your hen - all the time she looks like she's enjoying her life, that's good for her.

Jill

 

[caralouise1974]

Oh my god, this is exactly what happens to Bella - the feathers are starting to turn sticky and white already under her vent. Her belly does seem a little distended, but I thought it was because she had just come into lay.

She's so completely healthy otherwise, it's heartbreaking to think she might have something so devastating wrong with her.

I could cry

 

[dave_Cash69]

alot of my hens have that, i think it might be from where my rooster mates them, though,.

 

[caralouise1974]

No rooster here, so I'm tempted to think the worst...

Poor Bella.

 

[dave_Cash69]

aw, dont be downhearted.
sorry i dont hvae a good answer besides the rooster option
but hopefully someone will come along later and assist you.
best of luck to you and bella.