Vent Infection?

[What the Pluck]

I found my Dark Cornish hen today hanging out in the coop. She has been sitting on eggs for about 4-5 days and just gave up today. She was sitting on the roost all day. I found it really odd. When I picked her up I noticed she's weak and light(er). Normally all of my Cornish's are very feisty. Thought maybe she was a little weak from sitting on the eggs for a few days so I put her back down. She went out and and she pooed. Her poo is light green and CLEAR..(separated). I checked her vent and didn't find any loose egg parts (plus she was sitting so wouldn't have produced and egg). She seems very weak and the other chickens were picking on her (because they know something is wrong). I have looked on here and couldn't find anything that matched her symptoms. Anyone know what it may be or what I should do? She pooped every minute like she's trying to get something out or it's irritated in some way. I gave her some penicillin (pill form) as a back up. I don't want her to get worse.

There is no build up or missing feathers. She's all clean back there besides the residue from the light green and clear .....fluid(?) coming out. It's like slime.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I would consider worming her, especially with the weight loss/diarrhea.

It is possible that it is some kind of infection but do make sure she doesn't have worms.

Take care to note whether a wormer is approved for egglaying hens, as tossing eggs would be vital if it isn't, and so researching it would be a must.

Some vets will do a fecal float for worms (false negatives are possible) and also fecal culture/cocci check.

 

[What the Pluck]

There are no vets that assist chickens in my area.... so a vet isn't possible. The vets I do call treat it like it's a joke to get treatment for a chicken... it's frustrating. I did call the place that is over an hour and a half away and they put me on hold for 20 minutes then just hung up on me... I don't believe it's worms because I keep plenty of wood ash around for them to eat and no other bird is showing similar symptoms. They also cannot leave the yard. I don't know where she would have picked up worms.

I have been searching for antibiotics, primarily Tylosin tablets to try to help whatever it is.. and I am having no luck. Where do people GET help for their chickens if there is no vet????

 

[Michael Apple]

I would consider worming her, especially with the weight loss/diarrhea.

It is possible that it is some kind of infection but do make sure she doesn't have worms.

Take care to note whether a wormer is approved for egglaying hens, as tossing eggs would be vital if it isn't, and so researching it would be a must.

Some vets will do a fecal float for worms (false negatives are possible) and also fecal culture/cocci check.

X2. Fenbendazole , the anthelmintic in Safeguard liquid, has no withdrawal period for turkeys, so I wouldn't worry about withdrawal on a chicken, just don't use it during moult since it can cause feather burn. I'd worm 3 days in a row at .5 cc orally each dose. Use vitamin-electrolyte-probiotic powder in waterers during that time. Beginning the the 4th day, run only Corid in water for 5-7 days. After the last day of Corid. Run vitamin-electrolyte-probiotic powder in waterers for at least 3 days.

Note: Treatment doses of Corid are as follows:

Corid 9.6% liquid is 2 tsp per gallon of water, making a fresh solution each morning.

Coirid 20% powder is 1.5 tsp per gallon of water.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

There are no vets that assist chickens in my area.... so a vet isn't possible. The vets I do call treat it like it's a joke to get treatment for a chicken... it's frustrating. I did call the place that is over an hour and a half away and they put me on hold for 20 minutes then just hung up on me... I don't believe it's worms because I keep plenty of wood ash around for them to eat and no other bird is showing similar symptoms. They also cannot leave the yard. I don't know where she would have picked up worms.

I have been searching for antibiotics, primarily Tylosin tablets to try to help whatever it is.. and I am having no luck. Where do people GET help for their chickens if there is no vet????

My chickens bathe in wood ash all winter long but I still find worms in the poo and have to deworm them twice a year. Not my choice...I tried waiting and seeing but then the worms show up. So I have just accepted that I have to worm them.

The worms can come from eating earthworms. Worm eggs are in the soil- once one of them is infested the others will get them too.

Jefferspet.com has lots of meds for chickens and I have ordered from them before and was pleased.

Also a lot of the medications are at the feed store but look in the cattle section and other animal sections to see more variety. Just research beforehand.

 

[What the Pluck]

Both of you are pretty certain then that it's worms?

 

[GuineaFowling]

Though it doesn't sound like it, it might be Vent Greet. Do your research on Vent greet and figure out if she shos the symptoms and if she does treat her with yogurt and put some apple cider vinegar with mother in her water supply (make sure you use apple cider vinegar with mother and not just regular acv, a good brand is Braggs . Good Luck!

 

[Michael Apple]

That is kind of you, GuineaFowling, to offer help, but ACV will not prevent nor treat worms, coccidiosis, vent gleet, etc.

I'd suspect intestinal worms, as ChickensAreSweet mentioned, and treat for coccidiosis as I mentioned previously. Since the bird is being harassed by the others, and is weak, she needs to be separated to a comfortable recovery area. Do not feed scratch grains or fibrous treats during this time. Feed crumbles/pellets, oats dry or moistened with water. Scrambled egg is nutrient rich and easy to digest if the bird needs motivation to eat. I would not procrastinate since the sooner you treat symptoms, it is more likely the hen can recover.

 

[What the Pluck]

Do you know of a good place to purchase the de-wormer? Tractor supply does not carry it and I don't know what websites are good to use. She is back on her nest, brooding so this will add some difficulty.

 

[GuineaFowling]

That is kind of you, GuineaFowling, to offer help, but ACV will not prevent nor treat worms, coccidiosis, vent gleet, etc.

I'd suspect intestinal worms, as ChickensAreSweet mentioned, and treat for coccidiosis as I mentioned previously. Since the bird is being harassed by the others, and is weak, she needs to be separated to a comfortable recovery area. Do not feed scratch grains or fibrous treats during this time. Feed crumbles/pellets, oats dry or moistened with water. Scrambled egg is nutrient rich and easy to digest if the bird needs motivation to eat. I would not procrastinate since the sooner you treat symptoms, it is more likely the hen can recover.

I myself and many others I know used the yogurt and acv with the mother method to heal hens who had vent gleet. It did work for vent gleet as the acv prevents yeast growth which is essential when a hen has vent gleet. That is the main purpose of the acv. I never said it would work for deworming.
What I do to prevent internal parasites is put some food grade DE in the hens food on a normal basis. My hens have never had worms and they are going on three years, nor have they been dewormed and I believe it is because of the DE.