Is This Vent Normal? NSFW

[galaga6846]

Edit- I have discovered that she has a vent prolapse. I have given her a warm bath, blow dried her feathers, and used a rubber glove to apply Preparation H and hold the vent back inside of her body for a few minutes. Then, I put her in a separate cage with food and water so she won't lay any eggs.

Forgive me, I'm somewhat new at this.

Just now I noticed that one of my 8 month old hens had some wet poop stuck to her bottom. Upon inspection, I noticed her vent looked beet red, leaking some kind of white substance. Usually their vents look sort of pinkish. I haven't noticed any diarrhea in the coop or run. Please take a look at the attached pictures.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'd also check her for vent gleet due to the white substance and messy bottom. She should be on yogurt to help rebuild the biome in her gut and egg tract.

Vent prolapses tend to recur, so this hen may have repeat problems.

Simply separating her will not prevent her from laying eggs. Once a hen matures to lay an egg, she will generally lay one egg every 23 hours. It slows after age 2, to perhaps 3 or 4 a week (depending on breed). But simply putting her in a cage will not stop her from laying, unless it is a tiny cage and she can't stand to lay.

But you don't want her to become egg bound, so if you put her in a very small cage to prevent her from standing up to lay (as most hens do), you could simply cause other problems.

You can't stop the egg process unless you took her to a vet and gave her a hormone shot....or threw her into a full molt by placing her in total darkness...but that would take a few days still.

She may be fine from now on, or have other issues. But I'd definitely check her for vent gleet and treat that.

LofMc

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have any human calcium with vitamin D? Tums will also work, if you give one orally. Do you think that she could have an egg stuck inside? Keep the prolapsed red tissue moist at all times with vaseline or mild oil so that it doesn’t dry out. You can try to push it back inside if there is no egg. Here is a good link about prolapsed vents:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic/L

 

[galaga6846]

I'd also check her for vent gleet due to the white substance and messy bottom. She should be on yogurt to help rebuild the biome in her gut and egg tract.

Vent prolapses tend to recur, so this hen may have repeat problems.

Simply separating her will not prevent her from laying eggs. Once a hen matures to lay an egg, she will generally lay one egg every 23 hours. It slows after age 2, to perhaps 3 or 4 a week (depending on breed). But simply putting her in a cage will not stop her from laying, unless it is a tiny cage and she can't stand to lay.

But you don't want her to become egg bound, so if you put her in a very small cage to prevent her from standing up to lay (as most hens do), you could simply cause other problems.

You can't stop the egg process unless you took her to a vet and gave her a hormone shot....or threw her into a full molt by placing her in total darkness...but that would take a few days still.

She may be fine from now on, or have other issues. But I'd definitely check her for vent gleet and treat that.

LofMc

Treat gleet with yeast infection cream? I have some probiotic powder for chickens. Can I use that in lieu of yogurt?

 

[galaga6846]

Up until today she's never had soiled feathers. She has always been very clean and healthy.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Chicken Chick is an excellent resource for information. Look on her site for vent gleet as well.

If you truly suspect vent gleet (which could cause irritation which could cause prolapse), in mild to moderate feed with yogurt or probiotics and spray vent with athlete's foot spray.

Serious cases need meds from the vet.

It is important to try to figure out why her vent prolapsed. Some hens are just anatomically weak and susceptible. Often it is trying to pass an overly large egg. Other times is it infection of the egg tract. Only investigation and some trial and error will help you figure out what it might be.

LofMc

 

[galaga6846]

Chicken Chick is an excellent resource for information. Look on her site for vent gleet as well.

If you truly suspect vent gleet (which could cause irritation which could cause prolapse), in mild to moderate feed with yogurt or probiotics and spray vent with athlete's foot spray.

Serious cases need meds from the vet.

It is important to try to figure out why her vent prolapsed. Some hens are just anatomically weak and susceptible. Often it is trying to pass an overly large egg. Other times is it infection of the egg tract. Only investigation and some trial and error will help you figure out what it might be.

LofMc

She already laid a normal sized egg with a nice thick shell this morning, and this was a very sudden development. Even earlier today she didn't have any signs of anything unusual. It wasn't until later this evening while she was pecking in the garden that I noticed her back feathers were soiled and checked her vent.

 

[galaga6846]

Do you have any human calcium with vitamin D? Tums will also work, if you give one orally. Do you think that she could have an egg stuck inside? Keep the prolapsed red tissue moist at all times with vaseline or mild oil so that it doesn’t dry out. You can try to push it back inside if there is no egg. Here is a good link about prolapsed vents:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic/L

I actually ordered some calcium for myself today! She laid a nice egg this morning, and didn't have soiled feathers. It wasn't until this evening that I noticed soiled feathers

 

[galaga6846]

Update - I checked on the hen (named Sugar Pie) and the vent is still in place. She's had a normal poop as well since then. All the butt feathers look fluffy and nothing is soiled. I gave her some egg shells, which she devoured, and she ate some crumbles as well. She is making happy cooing noises. I covered the container with a blanket, and assume she will be going to sleep. Hopefully it was caught so early that it won't be an issue. Fingers crossed. Tomorrow morning I will check it again.

How long should I keep her in isolation?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

A day or two. If she isn't showing signs tomorrow, let her out. Just keep an eye on her and giving her calcium.
LofMc

Edited to Add: also, the others may need more calcium too. Be sure to have calcite grit out or oyster shells for all to free feed.