Vent Gleet

[Nolagurl1956]

I really think this is probably egg yolk peritonitis. Her lower belly is so enlarged that her vent area looks pooched out. There could be lash egg material from salpingitis inside the abdomen. These hens eventually die from EYP. There also could be some ascites fluid inside. The enlarged belly “catches” the droppings so they don’t fall away. I would concentrate on getting her to eat and drink, and trying to make her more comfortable. Clean her vent area with a little spray of water. If there is irritation, Nustock is pretty good. I tend to deal with these reproductive disorders by trying to let them live normally without a lot of intervention. I would recommend getting a necropsy or dojng one yourself when you lose her. This is common in some hens.

Thank you.

I would try the Keflex. I have a message in with a couple of others just to check my notes on dosing. I have dosage at 57mg per pound of weight given orally twice a day.

Since these are capsules, place the powder of 1 capsule into a "known" measurement. Say, 1 teaspoon cat food, liverwurst, yogurt, etc. Mix it up well - then you can divide that up to the dosage you need. For example if you need 250mg then you would give the hen 1/2 of that "concoction". Do I make any sense? LOL

Is she pooping at all? If you can, get us a photo of her poop too.

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this
Reproductive problems just really stink. They are common in laying hens and sadly I have lost some. I don't keep a large number of birds, but each one is special in their own right, so I do understand that it is upsetting and heartbreaking.

Thank you for the hugs. This is so hard ;~(

Yes she is pooping a little, sometimes just yellow liquid and sometimes a more formed stool. I will capture a photos and send soon.
xxo

And I do understand your dosing instructions. Thanks. I’ll wait to hear more.

 

[Nolagurl1956]

I really think this is probably egg yolk peritonitis. Her lower belly is so enlarged that her vent area looks pooched out. There could be lash egg material from salpingitis inside the abdomen. These hens eventually die from EYP. There also could be some ascites fluid inside. The enlarged belly “catches” the droppings so they don’t fall away. I would concentrate on getting her to eat and drink, and trying to make her more comfortable. Clean her vent area with a little spray of water. If there is irritation, Nustock is pretty good. I tend to deal with these reproductive disorders by trying to let them live normally without a lot of intervention. I would recommend getting a necropsy or dojng one yourself when you lose her. This is common in some hens.

Eggcessive, you have helped me with prior problems before. Thanks for adding to the conversation..

By making her more comfortable does that mean just leave her alone. She is in my bathroom right now after bathing her and applying bacitracin and theracyn.

Yesterday she did not eat much except a little yogurt. I’m trying to give her water with a syringe just to be sure she doesn’t dehydrate.
thanks

 

[Nolagurl1956]

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you.


Thank you for the hugs. This is so hard ;~(

Yes she is pooping a little, sometimes just yellow liquid and sometimes a more formed stool. I will capture a photos and send soon.
xxo

And I do understand your dosing instructions. Thanks. I’ll wait to hear more.

From what I can find, that is the correct dose. The antibiotic may help if there is swelling or infection.
Sadly, I have never found a way to cure them once reproductive problems become evident, but with supportive care they do seem to be happy within themselves, more active and participate with the flock. I'm sure her buddy is missing her.

 

[Nolagurl1956]

From what I can find, that is the correct dose. The antibiotic may help if there is swelling or infection.
Sadly, I have never found a way to cure them once reproductive problems become evident, but with supportive care they do seem to be happy within themselves, more active and participate with the flock. I'm sure her buddy is missing her.

Thanks for the confirmation on the dosing. Should I continue to bathe her and apply bacitracin and theracyn?

I read somewhere that the most humane thing to do is have her put to sleep. I could not ring her neck myself although my maternal grandmother raised hens and ate them, Not me.
Thanks again.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the confirmation on the dosing. Should I continue to bathe her and apply bacitracin and theracyn?

I read somewhere that the most humane thing to do is have her put to sleep. I could not ring her neck myself although my maternal grandmother raised hens and ate them, Not me.
Thanks again.

If she's alert and can move around o.k., eat/drink on her own, then I would probably let her back with the other one. Cleaning the vent area as needed. The ointments can help protect the skin so it's not burned by the "leakage". If you notice the tissue protruding, then it needs to have ointment applied as well.

I'm very sorry about your hen. It's a tough decision to make sometimes. A lot of people do have their vet put them to sleep when the time comes so if that's an option for you it would be good to discuss this with your vet to make sure it's a service s/he offers - some do not see chickens at all.

 

[Nolagurl1956]

If she's alert and can move around o.k., eat/drink on her own, then I would probably let her back with the other one. Cleaning the vent area as needed. The ointments can help protect the skin so it's not burned by the "leakage". If you notice the tissue protruding, then it needs to have ointment applied as well.

I'm very sorry about your hen. It's a tough decision to make sometimes. A lot of people do have their vet put them to sleep when the time comes so if that's an option for you it would be good to discuss this with your vet to make sure it's a service s/he offers - some do not see chickens at all.

Morning. Thanks again. I will continue to clean the area and apply salves. I have been applying bacitracin inside the vent as well, it can’t hurt.

One of my very first hens died on her own from a reproductive problem, this was probably in 2010, even after taking her to a vet, so I’m just going to stay on this course.

I’m going to start the Keflex today and if it is okay I’ll keep you updated as time goes on.
Many thanks

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Morning. Thanks again. I will continue to clean the area and apply salves. I have been applying bacitracin inside the vent as well, it can’t hurt.

One of my very first hens died on her own from a reproductive problem, this was probably in 2010, even after taking her to a vet, so I’m just going to stay on this course.

I’m going to start the Keflex today and if it is okay I’ll keep you updated as time goes on.
Many thanks

Sounds like a good plan.

Yes, of course! Please keep us updated on how it's going

 

[Nolagurl1956]

Sounds like a good plan.

Yes, of course! Please keep us updated on how it's going

Seems as if her stool is becoming firmer and there is less yellow. Hopefully this is a sign that ChicChick is getting better.
It is really really hard to catch a chicken in a wheelchair so I’ve missed a few vent treatments but I feel encouraged.

I

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It is looking better!

I tried going back over this thread - did you worm her or treat for Coccidiosis (if you did I missed it)?

I see one small spot of red - could be intestinal shed and it's a bit mucousy too. See how the poop goes over the next few days. If you see more, then worming and treating for Coccidiosis may be in order too.

I'm glad that she's doing better though! Not being able to catch her is good LOL