White discharge... Confused

[Mrs Brewster]

Hi all

Need some help again....I have a nearly 2 year old hybrid hen, yesterday and today has left a white thick discharge in the nest.

It looks like a wet egg... She has been having a problem with soft shells for a while, but this is the first time I've ever seen this with the chickens.

She very listless in herself last few days.

Can anyone help??

 

[rick]

Hi Mrs Brewster,

She needs to go to the vet as soon as possible but in the meanwhile bring her in where you can keep a close eye on what she's passing, eating, drinking and the state of her poops. I’ve found this really informative when I’ve had a sick hen as you have a much better chance of observing what is happening and avoid problems with the others (they quickly notice if a hen is dropping soft/unshelled egg and start harassing and vent pecking.)

There's a big risk of infection. When you say white - do you mean clear white (like uncooked 'white') or opaque white (like emulation paint)? Not pretending any expertise in this - I’ve lost one in a similar situation (PTS with repeating infection), had one survive - so far so good, and one that seemed to 'reset' after a heavy illness that nearly killed her but is now fit as a fiddle. All hybrids around 2 years old.

 

[Mrs Brewster]

Hi Rick

I'm not sure if it's vent gleet, because the description matches her behaviour at the moment. So bringing her in for night, bath with Epsom and apply caniston and see how she goes.

It was a glob of white emulsion type mess, scooped it out both times, so the others don't come in contact, until I know what it is.

 

[rick]

If its egg like then its not vent gleet (gleet is a yeast infection like thrush, and very smelly by all accounts - Blaze didn’t have vent gleet it just seemed like a possible explanation at the time). Its probably egg if that was the impression you got and I can only guess that the whiteness would be calcium but have not had any symptom like that from mine. They tend to pass loose egg contents over a couple of days, looking pretty ill and uncomfortable over that time.
Baths are always good - seem to get things moving but be very gentle with her or you could burst the next one along and prolong the problem. If the water is pleasantly warm (but not in any way hot) then they relax in a bath that just covers their bottom half and seem to quite enjoy it. Get most of the water off by first wrapping in a towel then patting with kitchen roll then can blow dry or, at this time of year indoors, just air dry.
Separating her really is the best way of observing what's happening as you can miss so much if they are out with the others - wet poops, egg and discharge disappear into flooring material and you don’t get any information.
Also they can seem to get better only to go back down worse with the next egg so keep a close eye on her until she is either laying properly again or has gone off lay for a good while.
Do see a vet if you can. She may need antibiotics.

 

[Mrs Brewster]

I've treated her as though it's vent gleet, she was very smelly when I got hold of her.

She's eating and drinking, and no weight lost yet. So hopefully what ever it is I've caught it soon enough.

See how she is with some tlc and then try the vet. Thanks for the advice