Just got a couple questions. Have a hen who has had a nasty vent all winter. It started with just being poopy and unkempt, and her comb was still nice and red and she was still laying so I hoped she would deal with it herself. But now, she has a loss of feathers back there, it looks infected, very poopy, and it smells. She is still laying (they have blood on them but are very large eggs) and her comb is still nice and red, but apparently not able to deal with this herself. So tonight my plan is to soak her butt and clean it up and separate her into my little sick bay. None of the other chickens have this, so I'm thinking not a bacteria.
My question is, do I soak in just water or something else added? What is the best thing to put on her butt afterwards that I might have on hand or get easily? Will triple antibiotic ointment work? I know that it can't have a pain reliever in it.
Looking for practical advice (but any is welcome), I am fairly new to chicken keeping, about four years, and do not treat them as pets, they are livestock. I won't be taking her to the vet. But if I can help her a little bit, it's worth the time!
My question is, do I soak in just water or something else added? What is the best thing to put on her butt afterwards that I might have on hand or get easily? Will triple antibiotic ointment work? I know that it can't have a pain reliever in it.
Looking for practical advice (but any is welcome), I am fairly new to chicken keeping, about four years, and do not treat them as pets, they are livestock. I won't be taking her to the vet. But if I can help her a little bit, it's worth the time!