Vent gleet - completely cement-like and impossible to remove?!

[pepchickens]

Yes, essentially it's like a scab. I've never really been able to completely i.d. what all that material consists of, but it sticks on like glue. Surprisingly, when it does eventually slough off, the tissue underneath usually looks very good and healed. Anyway...just keep working the oil/sugar or whatever ointment you have on hand. She's essentially retaining the prolapse for the most part until she poops. Once the material comes off, the action won't be so exaggerated.

As for getting fluids into her - you can syringe or tube fluids if necessary. Try giving sweetened water (sugar water) or electrolytes.
Anything juicy/watery to eat - tomato, melon, cucumber these seem to be interesting to them when they are "off".
Wet mushy feed. Ground up veggies/made into a bit of a soupy mush.

Here's the thing. We all know that they *should* eat their normal nutritionally balanced food, do provide it and make it available, but often when they are off their feed, getting them a little something else is better than nothing. Once better, I've never not had a hen go back to eating her normal feed.

You’re amazing at this. Thank you so much

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You’re amazing at this. Thank you so much

How is she doing?

 

[pepchickens]

How is she doing?

Seems quite well. If she didn’t have a messy butt I would think she’s back to 100%. I haven’t examined the vent internally, where the scab is, because I think I was harming more than helping. The visible vent looks great.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Seems quite well. If she didn’t have a messy butt I would think she’s back to 100%. I haven’t examined the vent internally, where the scab is, because I think I was harming more than helping. The visible vent looks great.

Good! I'm glad she's doing much better.

Yes, sometimes you can do more harm than good.

 

[BuddingGardener]

I know this thread was from earlier in the month, but this was very helpful to reassure me while I'm treating a vent-pecked hen. She is/was the bottom of the pecking order and, unfortunately, got pecked during laying on Thursday, resulting in prolapse. We were able to get antibiotics and anti-inflammatories from the vet, but did not feel comfortable going through with purse string sutures and hormone implants (especially since the price was way more than we could currently afford). We have since been treating her at home separate from the flock.

I was seeing the scab in her vent whenever she needed to poop and at first thought it was poop stuck to her, and I tried another epsom salt soak for her. Now I know it's a scab and to just continue her care as I've been doing (daily ointment, moisturizing, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory, daily calcium citrate, checking her vent to make sure everything is staying in -- and it has since Thursday night). It's been quite stressful, I've been micro-analyzing everything, and now I'm hopeful she will make it through all right. Been feeding her extra treats/yogurt/etc because she is uncomfortable and lonely without the rest of her flock, but I want to make sure she is able to poop without extra effort or visible discomfort before I allow her to reintegrate.

Thanks for posting pics, it was a great comparison to what I was seeing.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I know this thread was from earlier in the month, but this was very helpful to reassure me while I'm treating a vent-pecked hen. She is/was the bottom of the pecking order and, unfortunately, got pecked during laying on Thursday, resulting in prolapse. We were able to get antibiotics and anti-inflammatories from the vet, but did not feel comfortable going through with purse string sutures and hormone implants (especially since the price was way more than we could currently afford). We have since been treating her at home separate from the flock.

I was seeing the scab in her vent whenever she needed to poop and at first thought it was poop stuck to her, and I tried another epsom salt soak for her. Now I know it's a scab and to just continue her care as I've been doing (daily ointment, moisturizing, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory, daily calcium citrate, checking her vent to make sure everything is staying in -- and it has since Thursday night). It's been quite stressful, I've been micro-analyzing everything, and now I'm hopeful she will make it through all right. Been feeding her extra treats/yogurt/etc because she is uncomfortable and lonely without the rest of her flock, but I want to make sure she is able to poop without extra effort or visible discomfort before I allow her to reintegrate.

Thanks for posting pics, it was a great comparison to what I was seeing.

Glad you found the posts helpful.

Hopefully it won't be long before your hen heals completely.

 

[pepchickens]

I know this thread was from earlier in the month, but this was very helpful to reassure me while I'm treating a vent-pecked hen. She is/was the bottom of the pecking order and, unfortunately, got pecked during laying on Thursday, resulting in prolapse. We were able to get antibiotics and anti-inflammatories from the vet, but did not feel comfortable going through with purse string sutures and hormone implants (especially since the price was way more than we could currently afford). We have since been treating her at home separate from the flock.

I was seeing the scab in her vent whenever she needed to poop and at first thought it was poop stuck to her, and I tried another epsom salt soak for her. Now I know it's a scab and to just continue her care as I've been doing (daily ointment, moisturizing, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory, daily calcium citrate, checking her vent to make sure everything is staying in -- and it has since Thursday night). It's been quite stressful, I've been micro-analyzing everything, and now I'm hopeful she will make it through all right. Been feeding her extra treats/yogurt/etc because she is uncomfortable and lonely without the rest of her flock, but I want to make sure she is able to poop without extra effort or visible discomfort before I allow her to reintegrate.

Thanks for posting pics, it was a great comparison to what I was seeing.

I’m glad Fern could help! Her recovery was fast once I got in the groove with her treatment. I think she went back outside after a week. The baths helped a lot; messy butt = irritated butt. She’s doing great a few weeks later but I did notice some poopy eggs the past day or two. Hope your girl has the same success!

 

[Momma-Hen-Misti]

A storage container with a hole cut in the lid works well for soaking booties. You can add epsom salt or whatever you put in your booty bath water. (I'd suggest a locking handle/lid one. This lid will pop off if the bird tries to jump) I give snacks for boredom & to keep them distracted from trying to escape.

 

[pepchickens]

Obsessed!