What is this vent problem?

[larsonas]

We thought this was maybe vent gleet, but have been doing Epsom salt baths everyday for a week, giving probiotics and ACV in water, and has had little improvement. She whines when she poops and it's breaking my heart. She is near egg laying age and I'm afraid of what happens then. Trying to get this cleared up before. No other flockmates have this problem. TIA for any advice!

 

[Eggcessive]

It is always hard to know for sure what has happened from a picture, but her vent is dilated and looks crusty. Has she been obviously pecked around her vent by the other chickens? Has she been constipated and having trouble passing droppings? I would give her some chilled solid pieces of coconut oil to peck at—about a tsp daily until she is pooping easily. Mineral oil or olive oil could be substituted, but given in some food, at the same dosage. I would continue soaking her in warm Epsom salts or soapy water once a day for about 20 minutes. Toward the end, try to rub off some of the crusts that have softened, and feel inside her vent for any caked on material or white urates. Remove any lumps of stuck poop. She may have an inflammation of her cloaca or it might be vent gleet. After soaking her, apply some Nustock antifungal cream to her vent, or you can also use antibiotic ointment.

This type of problem may be from vent pecking damage, chronic constipation, or cloacitis (vent gleet or inflammation.) It may take awhile to treat, and is not for the faint of heart, but she can recover. Make sure that she is drinking well. If you put a lot of water in a small bowl of chicken feed, that can get more liquids into her. Probiotics are also good to use. Check her crop in the morning to make sure it is emptying over night.

 

[larsonas]

It is always hard to know for sure what has happened from a picture, but her vent is dilated and looks crusty. Has she been obviously pecked around her vent by the other chickens? Has she been constipated and having trouble passing droppings? I would give her some chilled solid pieces of coconut oil to peck at—about a tsp daily until she is pooping easily. Mineral oil or olive oil could be substituted, but given in some food, at the same dosage. I would continue soaking her in warm Epsom salts or soapy water once a day for about 20 minutes. Toward the end, try to rub off some of the crusts that have softened, and feel inside her vent for any caked on material or white urates. She may have an inflammation of her cloaca or it might be vent gleet. After soaking her, apply some Nustock antifungal cream to her vent, or you can also use antibiotic ointment.

This type of problem may be from vent pecking damage, chronic constipation, or cloacitis. It may take awhile to treat, and is not for the faint of heart, but she can recover. Make sure that she is drinking well. If you put a lot of water in a small bowl of chicken feed, that can get more liquids into her. Probiotics are also good to use. Check her crop in the morning to make sure it is emptying over night.

Thank you so much! I will definitely try those recommendations. She has not been pecked at from what I can tell, I've never witnessed any of my silkies doing that. Yes, very crusted around edges, doesn't seem to loosen up much after the baths. Going to try to find some Nustock today!