HEN WITH VENT GLEET

[farmhouseonthebay]

3 weeks ago one of m hens died. I found her laying down with her vagina exposed and some oviducts on the ground. Blood all over. I assumed she had prolapsed. Yesterday I was checking on them and noticed another hen had lost feathers around her vent and was a little bloodie. I separated her. She is in a cage inside the coop now. I've been bathing her in warm water with espson salt. She laid an egg in the water today. I don't know what to do. I noticed another hen has a tiny bald spot as well so that means that she is also infected. Please help!!
I ordered a new waterer, cleaned the one I currently have. I also ordered oyster shells in case they were having calcium deficiency. What I can do or order ASAP to cure them?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. It sounds like your first chicken had possibly suffered a prolapsed vent, but may have been vent pecked and that can lead to cannibalism where others peck at the red prolapse, and may pull out the intestines or oviduct throught the cloaca.

Cannibalism may start as pecking of feathers, and can progress to vent pecking, or severe injuries. Some common causes of cannibalism are over crowding, feeding too low of protein—chickens need a minimum of 16% and can handle up to 20%, or boredom if not getting outside to roam.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[farmhouseonthebay]

Welcome to BYC. It sounds like your first chicken had possibly suffered a prolapsed vent, but may have been vent pecked and that can lead to cannibalism where others peck at the red prolapse, and may pull out the intestines or oviduct throught the cloaca.

Cannibalism may start as pecking of feathers, and can progress to vent pecking, or severe injuries. Some common causes of cannibalism are over crowding, feeding too low of protein—chickens need a minimum of 16% and can handle up to 20%, or boredom if not getting outside to roam.

Sorry for your loss.

Have you any idea if the pictures I post look like Gleet vent?? that's the other chicken I noticed yesterday that had her bloody vent.

 

[Eggcessive]

To me it looks more like feather picking. Here is some reading about vent gleet:
https://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment-html/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/vent-gleet-aka-nasty-chicken-butt.64647/

Some use NuStock cream a sulfur based cream to treat the skin.

 

[farmhouseonthebay]

To me it looks more like feather picking. Here is some reading about vent gleet:
https://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment-html/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/vent-gleet-aka-nasty-chicken-butt.64647/

Some use NuStock cream a sulfur based cream to treat the skin.

Definitely she doesn't smell or have any discharge. Another hen is also missing some feathers around the vent area but is only a small patch. Tomorrow I will be leaving a camera before I leave for work. I will be watching them to see who is the one pecking at the others. Is there anything that would help the injured hen heal faster? I have been soaking her in epson salt warm water and I also put Iodine today. I have her in a cage inside the coop and also made her a nesting box attached to the cage. I am lost! this is my first time raising chickens. They are about 6 months old and started laying about 8 weeks ago.

 

[Relleoms]

Following. I have a girl I pulled off the roost tonight because her bottom looks very similar. Everything looks ok, and she’s acting fine other than missing a huge patch of tushy feathers!

 

[Relleoms]

If it’s just picking, will the new feathers fill in now or do we have to wait until her next molt?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

If it’s just picking, will the new feathers fill in now or do we have to wait until her next molt?

I am not an expert by any one's standard, but I think if it's just pecking the feathers will grow back as long as she is getting enough protein, is she still laying eggs?

 

[farmhouseonthebay]

Following. I have a girl I pulled off the roost tonight because her bottom looks very similar. Everything looks ok, and she’s acting fine other than missing a huge patch of tushy feathers!

can you send a picture? Mine is missing a HUGE area of the vent and if course it looked bloody...I don't think she prolapsed and I am not sure the has vent gleet since there is no muddy/pasty butt and it doesn't smell bad.

 

[Relleoms]

This is the best I could get with only one set of hands! No blood, I don’t think evidence of parasites (that I could tell), no smell, her vent looks fine, maybe a few scabs (or feather shafts?)-She’s eating, laying, pooping...everything else seems ok!