Sick chicken...in the dead of winter, darn it. Fingers crossed she will bounce back.

[MontanaMama]

Poor little Zelda. She’s been off the past couple days. I noticed her fluffy chicken butt wasn’t fluffy this morning. Looks like vent gleet to me…a bacterial issue. She’s the only hen in my flock who seems to be affected. I brought her inside and gave her a 20 minute epsom salt bath in the laundry sink. She fell asleep and didn’t seem to mind a bit. We got her back end cleaned up and snuggled her in towels so she could rest. She’s drying off in the laundry room now. I am adding apple cider vinegar to the hen’s water…it’s supposed to help with lower gut health. I’ll take her outside to roost with her posse as soon as she’s completely dry.

I love my girls. They’re such troopers during our long winters. Zelda in particular is such a sweetheart. Has anyone here dealt with this particular problem?

[sprinkleeninow]

1. C'mon pretty one! ❤

I offer up a prayer. 🙏

[MontanaMama]

2. Zelda and I gladly accept.

[SheltieLover]

3. Healing vibes on the way! 💗💗💗

Beautiful girl!

Do you have antibiotics for her? (I know nothing about chickens.)

[MontanaMama]

9. Just apple cider vinegar

and some cultured yogurt in small amounts. I hope it’s enough.

[SheltieLover]

11. Can you not get abxs for her?

[MontanaMama]

17. Maybe...

I don’t have a vet for my chickens. Avian vets are hard to come by where I live…although I have one for our parrot. If Zelda isn’t doing a lot better tomorrow, that will be my next call.

[SheltieLover]

20. Good plan!

How is Zelda this morning?

[Kali]

4. I've only seen pasty butt in chicks

Sounds like clean up and warmth should do the trick for you.

[MontanaMama]

10. I didn't know it affected full grown hens!

I’ve seen it in chicks…in fact years ago, we named a chick Pasty Butt because she had this affliction as a chick. She lived a long long life after treatment.

[Ocelot II]

5. Poor chicky! Hope she's better soon.

I don't know anything about chicken diseases but I wish her the best. My neighbors keep chickens in a back yard coop (this is right in the city, but it's OK if you get a permit), and one of them looks like your Zelda. I like to walk by and watch them.

[cilla4progress]

6. Wow - what a great chicken mom you are,

MM!

I'm afraid it's a little rougher where I live!

Good on ya!

[MontanaMama]

13. Thanks c4p.

I do my best. Hope it’s good enough.

[DarthDem]

7. Oh, I Hope She's Better Soon

Healing vibes sent!!! Get better, Zelda!

[MontanaMama]

14. Zelda jumped on the roost bar tonight

after I took her back out to the coop. She grabbed the spot right by the infrared heater. She’s no slouch.

[DarthDem]

21. Aww! Great to Hear That!!

On the mend I hope.

[Diamond_Dog]

8. Awww

Wishing you and Zelda all the best!

[MontanaMama]

15. Thank you DD.

I hope I caught this in time. Zelda was a little perkier when I took her back out to the coop tonight. 🤞

[I_UndergroundPanther]

12. Awww shes beautiful

I miss having chickens.

[MontanaMama]

16. Aren't chickens the best?

I love them all so much. They are lovely companions in the garden.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

18. I adore chickens

But my heart belongs to the felines.

But chickens are the best buddies. I would have taken a bullet for my chickens.

[ShazzieB]

19. I love chickens, too.

My grandma had chickens when I was little. I spent a ot of time at her house, and i have very fond memories of "helping" her feed them and gather the eggs. I also remember lying in bed on a summer evening, listening to the hens cluck to each other as they settled down for the night, accompanied by the cooing of the pigeons that roosted in the henhouse rafters. Such comforting sounds. *sigh*

I hope Zelda makes a speedy and complete recovery!