Hernia or infection?

[MannoZoo21]

Hello,

I recently obtained this RIR from a friend who could not keep her flock anymore. During my exam, I found mites, lice and this access like swelling to the right of her vent. After a few days, it now looks more like an infection but a friend of mine said it could be a hernia. I wanted to see what others think and how to go about treating her asap. She’s laying eggs, eating, drinking and acting normal otherwise.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

To me it's looks like she may have had a prolapse at some point and perhaps suffered some injury to the vent.
I'd say it's infected. The mites and lice may have contributed to some of the swelling as well.

I'd give her a good soaking/cleanup. Apply ointment or oil to the vent to see if any scabs will start to heal up and slough off.

The yellow material is a bit concerning. It's hard to tell if those are urates, lash material or infection...could be a combo.

If she were mine, I'd start her on an antibiotic like Amoxicillin to help fight inflammation and infection.

How are you treating the mites/lice?

It may be a good idea to deworm her too. Safeguard or Valbazen are both good to use.


To treat most worms that poultry can have except for Tapeworm you can use Safeguard (Fenbendazole) or Valbazen (Albendazole). Both are given orally by weight; they do not mix well with water.

Safeguard dose is 0.23ml per pound of weight given orally once a day for 5 days in a row.
---OR---
Valbazen dose is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once, then repeated in 10 days

Here's how to give oral medications:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

 

[MannoZoo21]

Hi thank you so much! I did deworm them with panacur and corid already. I’ll start the soaks tomorrow and order amoxicillin powder. For the mites and lice, i have a dawn bath and used D-Earth. I have Permethrin coming in tomorrow.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi thank you so much! I did deworm them with panacur and corid already. I’ll start the soaks tomorrow and order amoxicillin powder. For the mites and lice, i have a dawn bath and used D-Earth. I have Permethrin coming in tomorrow.

Sounds good.

Keep us posted on how she's getting along.

 

[MannoZoo21]

This was after soaking

 

[MannoZoo21]

This is after clipping and cleaning

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think it's looking better.

I'd keep those scabby areas covered with ointment or oil, those will heal up and slough off eventually. Hopefully the swelling will go down as she heals up and the mites are gone. The antibiotic may help as well.

Do watch that flies are not getting on the wounds, they will lay eggs which in turn, maggots hatch and cause what's called Flystrike, this is a bad scenario. Maggots will eat dead and healthy flesh, cause infection and in some cases the bird will die.