Red Sex Link Hen Having Goopy Vent Problems

[my sunwolf]

I had a hen like that, if it stinks she may have maggots inside her vent from the mess on her feathers and flies getting to her as one of my hens did, that had an egg break inside her. You need to trim all the feathers, put her in a bathtub and take a syringe and squirt some peroxide up inside her vent. If she has maggots inside they will come out, keep squirting the peroxide into her vent until you see no more maggots coming out. Then separate her into a hospital cage and feed her high protein, like scrambled eggs and add calcium to them then add a bit of nutri-drench to her drinking water and give her a broad spectrum antibiotic such as terramycin (OTC) or baytril (prescription only). Within a week she will look 100% better, but if she does have maggots inside her which she looks like she does, if you don't get them out she might die.

Wouldn't the maggots come out in her poo? I haven't seen anything like that on the surface, but maybe I will try the peroxide. Also, if she does have a form of vent gleet that got infested with maggots, the antibiotics would still just make the vent gleet worse, right?

 

[BroodyChknMomma]

My hen just stunk terribly, I never did see any maggots in her poop. If it smells like decay, more than likely she has maggots inside. Especially, if she has been outside in hot weather with all the flies around. It's a nasty job and it might take 30 minutes to an hour to get them all out if that's what she has. It took my hen a week to get better, though I kept her in her cage for 2 weeks to keep an eye on her.

 

[BroodyChknMomma]

Well, you could try it without the antibiotics, though, I gave my hen antibiotics and added powdered avian probiotics and nystatin to her scrambled eggs while treating her with the antibiotics to treat any secondary bacterial infections.

 

[my sunwolf]

My hen just stunk terribly, I never did see any maggots in her poop. If it smells like decay, more than likely she has maggots inside. Especially, if she has been outside in hot weather with all the flies around. It's a nasty job and it might take 30 minutes to an hour to get them all out if that's what she has. It took my hen a week to get better, though I kept her in her cage for 2 weeks to keep an eye on her.

I couldn't say whether the smell is just yeast goop or decay

I'll try another bath, we always soak her in the warm water for at least 20 minutes. I can say that she no longer needs any feathers clipped, she's pulled all the ones around her vent out already

Plus it's just tragic to hear her panicked clucks when she's in a cage all by herself. The whole situation is pretty sad, and she's only gotten worse. With the weather getting warmer, I do worry about all the flies the coop is attracting. Thanks for your advice! I'd really love to get my hands on some nystatin, did you get it from a vet?

 

[BroodyChknMomma]

Yes, luckily we have a wonderful avian vet who advised me on all my chickens health. I would check for maggots.

 

[BroodyChknMomma]

If you could get ahold of a syringe just open the vent and insert syringe into the vent a little bit and spray the peroxide up there

 

[arkansaschicks]

1800 pet meds has Fluconazole/ Nystatin. I read an article that says vent gleet can be from several different reasons. One can be yeast and the other can be failure of the mucsles to separate the waste properly . I guess it wouldn't hurt to do the peroxide up the vent and just see it there are any creatures. I would really recommend trying the Grapefruit seed extract up the vent a couple of time and see it it works. GFSE is great to have on hand and use in their water. I say it is worth a try!!

I read on here to try Milk Thistle seed because my hen has ascites. It appears it is because of Fatty Liver syndrome. I have been doing it for 3 weeks now and it is REALLY making a difference! I feel the GFSE can make a difference. I bought some and are starting it in my girls water.

 

[BroodyChknMomma]

Yes, definitely, check for the maggots if your hen has been outside the chances are almost 100% for maggots, especially this time of year.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have my order coming for the grapeseed extract from Vita Cost. ordered it yesterday in the mail today, my lil hen is looking better, every eve, when she goes to roost I pick her up and spray her vent on the outside with either Oxine ah or Veterycin and i am adding 3 tab. of ACV in a gallon of water daily, it's been slow progress but i am seeing improvement PTL. So looking forward to her being 100% soon. thanks for the imfo about the Milk Thistle too, I have lost 2 hens from Ascites so I need some of this in my med chest also.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Miss Lydia- I am so glad your girl is doing better!! I am amazed the difference I see in my girls abdomen size! In just 3 weeks its gone from the size of a tennis ball to a golf ball on both of them, I have had one die of it too. I think I'm dealing with something hereditary here. So I am excited to see the milk thistle working! Hope to get great results from the GFSE too!