vent gleet? but confused

[chicky1016]

Hello. I believe several of my chickens have vent gleet. One of which I have been treating for several months now. They have a lot of the symptoms of vent gleet but one thing confuses me is that they shake their heads a lot. I read that's indicative of possible gape worms, but their butts are nasty... If they have the worms, will it cause them to shake their heads AND have the nasty butt? Does vent gleet cause them to shake their heads also? I do not want to treat them for worms if they do not have it because antibiotics can make the vent gleet worse. Also, I noticed the ones that are affected, have stopped "chatting", or do very little of it now. Help, thanks!!

 

[chicky1016]

Hello. I believe several of my chickens have vent gleet. One of which I have been treating for several months now. They have a lot of the symptoms of vent gleet but one thing confuses me is that they shake their heads a lot. I read that's indicative of possible gape worms, but their butts are nasty... If they have the worms, will it cause them to shake their heads AND have the nasty butt? Does vent gleet cause them to shake their heads also? I do not want to treat them for worms if they do not have it because antibiotics can make the vent gleet worse. Also, I noticed the ones that are affected, have stopped "chatting", or do very little of it now. Help, thanks!!

And the ones that do still chat, their sounds are different. Almost like we sound when we are "hoarse", like the throat is affected.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you take a fresh poop sample to your vet for testing of worms, cocci and bacterial infection? There can be many reasons for a hen to have a messy bum, so having the poop tested is the best way to rule out these things.

Photos of the poop and your hen's vent gleet may be helpful as well.


@Eggcessive also answered some of your questions here on the other threadhttps://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/where-to-buy-nystatin.1181617/

Shaking heads can be from ear infection, respiratory illness, but also chickens may shake their heads during feather growth. I would look for any lice or mites on their bodies around the vent and neck areas. Vent gleet can be over diagnosed in chickens with diarrhea. Usually it is caused by a yeast infection in the GI tract, and the vent area becomes almost scalded. Here is some reading about it:
https://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment-html/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/vent-gleet-aka-nasty-chicken-butt.64647/
http://www.bhwt.org.uk/information/vent-gleet/