Vent gleet? (warning graphic pictures!)

[nathbeau70]

I just discovered one of my chicken may have vent gleet. I have obviously not been keeping an eye on them as I should have, and when I saw her and said something to my husband about it he said she had been like this for a couple of months!!!!
I just bathed her to remove all the crusty “stuff”, dried her well and applied some anti-fungal cream. I added apple cider vinegar to the water and plan on giving her some probiotics (didn’t have anything at home tonight). The pictures below are right after her bath. She also has a scab higher up on her abdomen (2nd picture). Besides some whitish discharge I also have seen her “drip” a cleanish liquid from her vent. We think she is still laying but not 100% sure. She is otherwise acting somewhat normal.
Does she has a chance of surviving this? I am definitely willing to take the time to treat her if she has a chance.
I am open to any suggestions you may have! Thanks in advance!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

Can you get photos of the vent discharge?
A photo of her standing up would be good too so we can see her "profile" whether the abdomen is swollen, etc.

The scab on her breast looks like a breast blister. I would apply some triple antibiotic ointment to that to help soften it. Daily soaks may also help. Does it smell bad?

Here's some info about vent gleet
https://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment-html/

 

[nathbeau70]

It does smell bad... sorry about the quality of the photos. I didn’t have much time before going to work this morning!

 

[Eggcessive]

How many hens do you have in how big of an area? Do they have a roost? Some of the feather loss and irritation, and breast blister/sore could be due to lying/sleeping on the floor, especially if bedding is damp or soiled. If she doesn’t sleep on a roost, I would try making a low one, and put her on it each night to train her to use one.

The breast blister can be treated with disinfectant and plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment. Nystatin ( Medistatin powder sold online) is a good antifungal medicine to use in the food to treat vent gleet/fungal infection. Some use antifungal creams (monistat or miconazole) from the drugstore given orally as well. Probiotics in the diet may help as well. Keeping bedding clean and dry as possible can be good. Pine shavings is usually better than straw or hay, and sand can be used as well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is her crop empty in the morning before she eats/drinks?

That yeasty area, is that under the vent or along her bare area at the breast on down?

 

[nathbeau70]

How many hens do you have in how big of an area? Do they have a roost? Some of the feather loss and irritation, and breast blister/sore could be due to lying/sleeping on the floor, especially if bedding is damp or soiled. If she doesn’t sleep on a roost, I would try making a low one, and put her on it each night to train her to use one.

The breast blister can be treated with disinfectant and plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment. Nystatin ( Medistatin powder sold online) is a good antifungal medicine to use in the food to treat vent gleet/fungal infection. Some use antifungal creams (monistat or miconazole) from the drugstore given orally as well. Probiotics in the diet may help as well. Keeping bedding clean and dry as possible can be good. Pine shavings is usually better than straw or hay, and sand can be used as well.

How many hens do you have in how big of an area? Do they have a roost? Some of the feather loss and irritation, and breast blister/sore could be due to lying/sleeping on the floor, especially if bedding is damp or soiled. If she doesn’t sleep on a roost, I would try making a low one, and put her on it each night to train her to use one.

The breast blister can be treated with disinfectant and plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment. Nystatin ( Medistatin powder sold online) is a good antifungal medicine to use in the food to treat vent gleet/fungal infection. Some use antifungal creams (monistat or miconazole) from the drugstore given orally as well. Probiotics in the diet may help as well. Keeping bedding clean and dry as possible can be good. Pine shavings is usually better than straw or hay, and sand can be used as well.

we currently have 6 hens. The coop itself is 5 1/2’ x 13’, they also have an outdoor run that is at least 3-4 times the size of the coop. They all sleep on a roost.

 

[nathbeau70]

Is her crop empty in the morning before she eats/drinks?

That yeasty area, is that under the vent or along her bare area at the breast on down?

I am not sure about her crop being empty or not in the morning. From the picture from this morning I am thinking maybe it’s impacted? I am just now learning about this issue. I need to research this more and find out how to help her empty it?
The yeasty area is definitely coming from her vent. We took a better picture when I got home from work.
What are your thoughts on the chances of this clearing out?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sometimes a crop that is not emptying or sour is a contributor to Vent Gleet, so treating both would be a good idea.
Check the crop first thing in the morning and see if it's empty.

Here's a good article about crop issues. Keep us posted on what you find out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[daverh]

I just discovered one of my chicken may have vent gleet. I have obviously not been keeping an eye on them as I should have, and when I saw her and said something to my husband about it he said she had been like this for a couple of months!!!!
I just bathed her to remove all the crusty “stuff”, dried her well and applied some anti-fungal cream. I added apple cider vinegar to the water and plan on giving her some probiotics (didn’t have anything at home tonight). The pictures below are right after her bath. She also has a scab higher up on her abdomen (2nd picture). Besides some whitish discharge I also have seen her “drip” a cleanish liquid from her vent. We think she is still laying but not 100% sure. She is otherwise acting somewhat normal.
Does she has a chance of surviving this? I am definitely willing to take the time to treat her if she has a chance.
I am open to any suggestions you may have! Thanks in advance!!
View attachment 2121427 View attachment 2121428View attachment 2121429

Hey Wyorp Rock! I think the treatment you are using is good. She just needs som TLC. Some extra protein to help feather growth wouldn't hurt (scrambled eggs are a good source), and electrolytes and keep up with your treatments. The antifungal is spot-on since gleet is a fungal infection. Probiotics to balance gut flora is a great idea. A good coop cleaning might be in order, especially if her living conditions are damp. Her eyes tell you she is not too happy. A good spray for the coop will help beat down bactaria and fungi. You've got this! She will be fine if you stay with the TLC.
Dave