Messy bum and hissing sound

[Cj2512]

So one of my two chickens has messy vent feathers plus after she has laid she seems to walk a bit funny (bum down to ground) for about 15 mins, there seems to be a slight protruding of the vent and also there's a hissing sounds coming from her vent. The protrusion and hissing only lasts a little while after she lays but what with the messy feathers I just wonder if everything is ok. I've had her since November and she has laid pretty much every day since, her eggs don't seem overly large and they've all been hard shelled.

Any ideas or advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

 

[chrismahon]

The two things may not be related. Messy bottom feathers could be a sign of worms so when was she last given a Flubenvet treatment? The noises could simply be things moving back into position after laying coupled with a lot of lubricant being generated. Perhaps it is so excessive it is leaking out and messing up her feathers? The funny walk could be her readjusting herself but I have seen hens wipe their vent on the floor to remove the remnants of a soft shelled egg. You may be right and a prolapse is developing, but sometimes the vent doesn't return into position immediately and it isn't cause for concern.

I'd say just keep an eye on her and worm if required.

 

[Cj2512]

Chris

Thanks so much for your post - has made me feel better. I wormed them three weeks ago using flubenvet and they are having another dose this week - so hopefully not worm related. I've cut out all veggies - was giving them spinach. So it's just pellets and a very small amount of grain before bedtime.

She's not laid today but I'll be keeping a close eye of her. If the mess around her vent doesn't disappear I may give her a bath at the weekend.

Thanks again