Sick Chicken

[FarmHeart]

Boy, am I hoping some of you can help me out. I have a flock of 13 chickens. One of them, my black australorp, has had a very messy vent for several days, if not a week. None of the other chickens are having this problem. I see no other signs except a possible enlarged crop. I just really noticed that this evening so will check it out more in the morning. I wanted to let her rest as I'm sure she's stressed from me checking her out. She has no eye or nasal discharge. I don't see signs of thrush. She seems to be eating and drinking well and isn't lethargic or anything. It's almost like her vent just leaks most of the time. She was on the deck today and I could see it drip several times, but she didn't appear to be trying to go or to be straining. There is a general "funny" smell about her, but figure it's just from her messy bottom, though it doesn't smell like normal poo, a little musty smelling. But I've also seen her have fairly normal droppings.

Her comb and wattles seem fine, not discolored, enlarged, etc. She recently went through a molt. I talked to the folks at our local feed store and they seemed to think e.coli or something similar. I picked up the antibiotic, but just don't feel right giving it to her, yet.

I did some research tonight on sour crop and impacted crop. It could be that, but it doesn't seem to explain the messy vent. I'm tired and sure hope someone can help me figure out what is best to do. She is, obviously, isolated from the other birds for now. Just seems so strange that none of the others are showing any symptoms, if it's viral, bacterial, etc.

Thank you!

Sonja

 

[sonew123]

Boy, am I hoping some of you can help me out.  I have a flock of 13 chickens.  One of them, my black australorp, has had a very messy vent for several days, if not a week.  None of the other chickens are having this problem.  I see no other signs except a possible enlarged crop.  I just really noticed that this evening so will check it out more in the morning.  I wanted to let her rest as I'm sure she's stressed from me checking her out.  She has no eye or nasal discharge.  I don't see signs of thrush.  She seems to be eating and drinking well and isn't lethargic or anything.  It's almost like her vent just leaks most of the time.  She was on the deck today and I could see it drip several times, but she didn't appear to be trying to go or to be straining.  There is a general "funny" smell about her, but figure it's just from her messy bottom, though it doesn't smell like normal poo, a little musty smelling.  But I've also seen her have fairly normal droppings.

Her comb and wattles seem fine, not discolored, enlarged, etc.  She recently went through a molt.  I talked to the folks at our local feed store and they seemed to think e.coli or something similar.  I picked up the antibiotic, but just don't feel right giving it to her, yet. 

I did some research tonight on sour crop and impacted crop.  It could be that, but it doesn't seem to explain the messy vent.  I'm tired and sure hope someone can help me figure out what is best to do.  She is, obviously, isolated from the other birds for now.  Just seems so strange that none of the others are showing any symptoms, if it's viral, bacterial, etc. 

Thank you!

Sonja

Im thinking reproductiive tract...if shes old enough to lay eggs..Im thinking her has a blurb in her system...no egg shell formation and she is now leaking the egg out slowly..or it was a very softshell egg that broke before she could expell it... I was also thinking she doesnt squat gar enough to poo and its dripping down her backside?