Messy vent help

monaro28 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:10 pm **Posts:** 7

Hi my almost 3 year old australorp has a bare and messy area under her vent. It has been like this for a little while but I thought some breeds with a lot of fluff were just like that sometimes. But the feathers there have now not grown back after moulting, they are still pin feathers I think they are called? And one bit of poo that seems to be stuck around some growing feathers. She seems to be acting normal still except today I noticed her seem to struggle to pass droppings and they seem to come out in little bits instead of one lot. And Ive noticed today that their water bowl has been leaking, I have always filled it up every day, but maybe if she hasnt had as much water as she needs could this contribute to it? And I have never knew they needed to be wormed, could this be a cause too? Another chicken is similar but isnt as bare. I have tried washing the area a while ago but the problem kept happening, but I thought as they were otherwise normal that some chickens were just like that. And I'm pretty sure its the same 2 that had droppings stuck to them when they were chicks that I had to clean off. Can anyone please help with what might be causing this and how can I fix it? Oh and she hasnt laid since almost the begining of the year I think when there was strange weather and she started moulting, but none of my other chickens or ducks are laying either.
Thanks, Kelly

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Hi Kelly

Your Australorp sounds like she has a similar problem as my Barred Plymouth Rock.

Have a look at the picture I posted in the link below & tell me if it is similar as your girl has developed?

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=16292

Just to let you know my girl hasn't laid an egg either since about early Feb. First I had to get her over this problem (which I won't be convinced that she is 100% over until I see her lay an egg) & then she went into moult which she has still not finished.

Apparently that will finish by July! :shock:

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Hi there, the first thing I would do would be to worm them all, make sure you do the recommended follow up dose also.

There are a few things to consider and I am sure others will have ideas also.

What are they being fed? Have you recently given them alot of scraps, greens or other treats that could be contributing to the problem?
Have you recently changed feeds?
Is their pen and nesting area clean, is the poo transfer from a messy roost or nest?

monaro28 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:10 pm **Posts:** 7

Hi thanks for replying, she looks similar to your picture but she isnt swollen but she has bit of poo I think it is stuck there that I cant wash off.
Does your hen look better now? Where are you located?

monaro28 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:10 pm **Posts:** 7

Yeah I will definatley start worming them all now, is there any other preventative health measures I should be doing for chickens or ducks?
I feed them all layer crumbles, which I havent changed recently, I have always given them some scraps but this hasnt changed recently.
Three of the hens all look fine its just two that dont, but they all seem to act the same and eat and drink good.
I thought they all roosted at night but I guess maybe the two messy ones could be sitting on the ground, I will try to check tonight, and I guess that would explain why the feathers below seem to clump together a bit... but why would the feathers still not be growing back below the vent?
And could the lack of laying be a concern? I have 5 pure bred chickens that are all almost 3, do pure bred hens only lay for a couple of years?

monaro28 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:10 pm **Posts:** 7

I just checked them and they are all perching but I will keep an eye on them each night in case they do sometimes sit on the ground.

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Commercial hens have a laying life so to speak and three years may just be the end of it. Its cold now and very normal for them to be off the lay. If the feathers are constantly dirty or being washed it takes them longer to grow back, give them a chance and they will. You could try a multivitamin suppliment in the water for them, after you worm. You should change your wormer also every few times so that the worms don't build up a resistance to the solution.

monaro28 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:10 pm **Posts:** 7

And would pure bred hens have an even shorter laying life because they are bred for show not for egg production?
Thank you for all you advice I will worm them and then add a multivitamin.
So do you think if they seem otherwise healthy and normal, there is no blood or flies hanging around, and nothing is actually blocking the vent, they should be fine and theres nothing else I can really do?

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:25 pm

monaro28 wrote:

And would pure bred hens have an even shorter laying life because they are bred for show not for egg production?
Thank you for all you advice I will worm them and then add a multivitamin.
So do you think if they seem otherwise healthy and normal, there is no blood or flies hanging around, and nothing is actually blocking the vent, they should be fine and theres nothing else I can really do?

Actually pure breeds have a longer life expectancy as they lay less eggs therefore they have less demand on their bodies to produce calcium etc. There are a few posts on the health problems of commercial hybrid layers on the forum. Imagine the toll of laying up 320 eggs in your first year would take upon a commercial hybrid hen's body...It's winter too so most hens have slowed down with the colder weather. Maybe some meat meal, a tin of sardines or fish based cat food will pick their condition up.

Here's a thread on improving the condition on chickens.

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=17650

Just muck out the coop about 3 days after worming and if you have any concerns reworm them in a fortnight's time. Also use garlic and apple cider vinegar in between chemical wormings. A good way to remember when to chemically worm is at the commencement of each season, so you've started in winter, next one will be spring and so forth...

Also a number of posts on garlic and apple cider vinegar in Poultry Health & Wellbeing and their uses for natural parasite control.

monaro28 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:10 pm **Posts:** 7

Thanks for that, are sardines in spring water ok or should it be oil? And how much per bird and how often do you do this?
And how do you give them garlic?
I read in the link you posted that someone gave them garlic in yoghurt, will this help their digestion too, and once again how much and how often?
And how often would add multi vitamin liquid?
And can you do all of the same for ducks?
And I have an eclectus parrot in the same aviary as my poultry and she shares their food sometimes (as well as their rossting hutch - its really cute!), does anyone know if the same food, worming and vitamin stuff is ok for parrots too?
Sorry bout all the questions and thanks a lot!

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