Vent gleet or water belly or something else?

Courtnan

In the Brooder
Feb 23, 2025
10
21
31
Hi all, my 3 yo RIR has been lethargic the past couple of days. She then got a really poopy butt and I noticed her cloaca and belly is red and maybe a little swollen. I brought her in and was thinking maybe sour crop as she has had it before but her crop seems fine and is emptying. Her poop also seemed normal until today she had massive diarrhea. Really watery and smelly (see pic). She was eating fine and drinking yesterday. Today she's still drinking but not eating much and laying down a lot. I also noticed her panting just a little bit and acting uncomfortable yesterday when I held her which never happens as she likes being held. Her walking gait seems fine but she is moving and walking slower.

She is the lowest on the pecking order and bullied a bit unfortunately that got worse when we got a rooster (will most likely get rid of him now), so I was also thinking maybe stress caused this but I'm not positive. The chickens are free range so she's usually by herself or with one other hen during the day.

I have to wait to give her a bath and clean her up until later today, so I can post a move clear picture of her backside later if needed.
 

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I would go ahead and treat her for vent gleet, since she has had sour crop in the past. She might be having some signs of a reproductive disorder also. She looks like others are pecking out her feathers as well, and that may be stressing her. Does she lay eggs regularly, and have you seen any abnormal or soft egg shells? You can use miconazole or Monistat cream orally twice a day, and also apply it to her red vent. Some use nystatin or Medistatin liquid orally instead. Try to keep her clean with a warm dish-soapy bath just to her vent area daily, since during hot weather, fly strike from maggots can be a deadly hazard. I would use some probiotics in her water or give a TB daily of a good plain yogurt with live cultures. Prevent any feed spills from getting moldy on the ground. Here is where to buy Medistatin which can be mixed with water and given orally or in a little egg or food:
https://allbirdproducts.com/products/medistatin
 
I would go ahead and treat her for vent gleet, since she has had sour crop in the past. She might be having some signs of a reproductive disorder also. She looks like others are pecking out her feathers as well, and that may be stressing her. Does she lay eggs regularly, and have you seen any abnormal or soft egg shells? You can use miconazole or Monistat cream orally twice a day, and also apply it to her red vent. Some use nystatin or Medistatin liquid orally instead. Try to keep her clean with a warm dish-soapy bath just to her vent area daily, since during hot weather, fly strike from maggots can be a deadly hazard. I would use some probiotics in her water or give a TB daily of a good plain yogurt with live cultures. Prevent any feed spills from getting moldy on the ground. Here is where to buy Medistatin which can be mixed with water and given orally or in a little egg or food:
https://allbirdproducts.com/products/medistatin
Hi! Thank you! Yes I'm pretty sure they are pecking her. I'm getting a saddle and we are building another coop so I was going to put her in it and just free range during the day so she doesn't have to deal with the other chickens much, but now I'm thinking I'm just gonna put her in the garage at night until then. I've been putting the no peck stuff on her too.
I'm honestly not sure if she's laying any eggs right now. We have 22 laying girls and I'm not sure who's is who. When I was treating her for sour crop a few months ago, I had her in the garage for a few weeks and she never laid, so I'm not sure if she still is now. No abnormal eggs that I see in the coop. I know she hasn't laid the last couple of days though. I gave her some yogurt in her food but I don't think she's eating much. I'll give her probiotics in the water too. She's just laying down and drinking water.. I'll give her some poultry cell later and check her crop again to see if she's eaten anything when I wash her off. No moldy food either, and the chickens usually clean up the feed spills too.

Would you mind sharing the link to what monistat I need too? I'll be going to Walmart tomorrow so I can get it then. Thank you 🙏
 

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