Vent Gleet in Chickens – Causes and Treatments Options

Vent gleet is quite common in chickens. If your chickens are facing the same, then don’t worry. I am here to explain to you all the details about this condition and how you can deal with it. To know more about the symptoms of vent gleet in chickens, its causes or what can happen if it gets severe, read on.

This condition needs appropriate treatment and you need to make sure that your chicken is getting the same. To know more in details about the treatment or what you must do, check the details provided below.

Vent Gleet Definition

Vent gleet is a medical term which, by definition, means an inflammation of the cloaca. This is a common name which is given to the condition of cloacal fungal infection. It is caused mainly by Candida albicans. This fungal infection is also referred to as ‘thrush’ which doesn’t look or smell good. This can also cause a lot of irritation and itchiness in and around the vent area.

Vent Gleet or Egg Bound (How To Know)

While the definition of vent gleet is quite clear to you, the egg-bound condition is when chickens have retained eggs. Egg bound is a condition that happens when the egg gets physically stuck inside a hen. You can know the difference by the signs and symptoms.

The major signs and symptoms of vent gleet condition are – feathers starting to shred around the vent, swelling and redness in and around the vent area and feathers staying pasted near the vent. Besides that, you can see whitish discharge and swollen abdomen.

On the other hand, in the case of an egg-binding situation, the chicken can appear weak and she may not show any interest in eating or moving. They will also have a panting rate of respiration while the legs can appear to be weaker as the egg remains pressed on the pelvic nerves.

What Are the Symptoms of Vent Gleet?

There can be a lot of signs and symptoms related to the vent gleet in chickens. Some of them can be quite common like this:

• Posted feathers near the chicken’s vent
• Chicken may have a swollen abdomen
• Excess formation of gas
• Reduction in the production of egg
• Feathers may appear to be dull
• Watery and loose droppings

While these are the common and early symptoms of having cloacitis condition, some of the advanced symptoms are:

• Loss of appetite
• Swelling and redness in and around the vent area
• A foul odour
• Abdomen gets harder
• Whitish or yellowish discharge from the vent
• Blood oozing out through the vent
• Sudden weight loss

Before it gets too serious, you must contact a vet as soon as you notice the early signs of vent gleet. Though it may appear to be a minor case, if left untreated, it can get serious. Also, as this is a fungal infection, it can affect other chickens too.

Vent Gleet Causes

There can be different causes behind the vent gleet. Some of the common reasons behind this fungal infection found in chickens are:

• Due to the unclean water
• General poor health of the chicken
• Too much of heat (hot climate)
• Due to a lot of stress
• For eating any mouldy scraps or feeds

This infection can also occur due to an imbalance in pH level. If your chicken’s body is either too alkaline or too acidic, then it can affect the pH balance. This can make your chickens more susceptible to this fungal infection. Sometimes, the vent gleet can also be caused due to the presence of protozoa or any other parasites. The parasites residing inside the cloaca can irritate the vent causing this condition.

Will Vent Gleet Go Away On Its Own?

No, the vent gleet will not go away on its own. If you leave this condition untreated, it can get worse. Also, it can affect other chickens too. This is not a disease but a condition that needs professional diagnosis and treatment. It is highly recommended that you consult with your professional vet. To treat your vent gleet affected chicken, you have to:

• First quarantine the affected bird: Make sure to isolate the chicken affected by the vent gleet. This will help you to stop the spread among other chickens as this condition is potentially contagious.
• Give them probiotics: You have to make sure that you are providing the birds with the probiotics. This should be given only after you consult the same with the vet. After checking the condition of the chicken, the vet can offer you the names of probiotics. This will help in treating the infection properly.
• Access to fresh water: Make sure that you are providing fresh and clean water to the chicken during the treatment. It is important to support good health and speedy recovery. Also, provide healthy chicken foods to your bird.
• Clean the area near the vent: You have to clean the vent area daily using mild cleaning soap and water. You have to keep your birds warm as you dry off them. Keep them away from cold as that can stress the chickens even more.
• Use an OTC ointment: Ask your vet for the best over-the-counter ointment which is anti-fungal. You have to apply the OTC anti-fungal cream on and around the vent area after you wash or clean your bird every day.
• Trim the feathers: I will personally recommend you trim off the feathers near the vent area. Be very careful while trimming off the feathers. This will allow us to clean the area in a better way.

It can take about a week or even more for the condition to go away completely. Till then, you have to keep on following the above-mentioned steps. You can ask the vet if you can do any additional steps for speedy recovery.

Severe Vent Gleet

Sometimes the vent gleet can turn into a severe condition. Some of the conditions where you can say that the vent gleet condition has gotten severe are:

• Lethargic chicken with a dirty vent

Do you notice your chicken is getting weaker or lazier? Due to the vent gleet condition, certain chickens can show less interest in moving. This is because of the constant irritation or other reasons. You can also notice that the vent area as well as the vent is quite dirty with discharge all over it. Sometimes, vent gleet can cause diarrhoea which can also result in a dirty and odorous vent. If the vent is noticeably dirty, then it can be due to a fungal infection. You have to consult the vet as soon as possible and take the chicken for a thorough checkup.

• Vent gleet and maggots

Vent gleet can often end up having redness, inflammation and swollen skin. This can get susceptible to maggots. If you notice maggots in and around the vent area, then it can be at the advanced stage. The infection has spread a lot and it needs immediate attention.

Maggots infest the dead skin cells of the chicken. They try to infest the wounded or infected area. So, when your chicken’s vent gleet infection gets severe, the maggots can easily infest the area. You have to consult the vet right away to kill the maggots or to clean the area. This condition needs special professional attention and you cannot leave the chicken alone in this condition.

• Vent gleet not getting better

Even if you have tried probiotics and OTC ointment, sometimes the vent gleet may not get better. This can be a sign when vent gleet has become too severe. If you don’t notice any progression even after several creams and medicines, contact the vet immediately.

This is important to let your vet know about it. The vet can diagnose the condition further and figure out the problems in your chicken. They can also recommend some more medicines or make some lifestyle changes. The vet can recommend some more antifungal creams for better recovery.

These are some of the severe vent gleet conditions in chickens. If you notice any of these, you need to immediately contact your vet.

How To Treat Vent Gleet Naturally at Home?

Besides all the medicines and creams, you can also treat the vent gleet in chickens by using some of the home remedies. Yes, when the condition is detected in an early stage, you can try some natural home remedies for treating this fungal infection in chickens. Wondering how to do that? I have personally tried two home remedy methods and both are successfully effective. These two are:

• Vent gleet apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar can be quite beneficial for treating this fungal condition in chicken. Yes, apple cider vinegar is easily available and can be quite good for the health of the animals too. It can treat the fungal infection effectively. Hence, you can mix about 2 to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in the chicken’s drinking water. Make them have it all the time daily. This can treat the condition and provide relief from the various symptoms.
• Vent gleet iodine: Another home remedy that you can use for treating the vent gleet condition in chickens is iodine. Yes, iodine can be highly effective when it comes to treating several fungal infections. You have to mix a bit of iodine in water and transform it into a spraying bottle. Now, spray the mixture on the affected area and the vent of the chicken daily. Make sure to spray it at least twice a day to get the best result. The iodine has great power to treat the infection and provide relief from the symptoms.

Vent Gleet Home Treatment (antibiotics or antifungal)

The vent gleet can be treated at home easily if it doesn’t seem to be too severe. With the help of the vet’s advice, you can treat the vent gleet in chickens with antifungal medicines or creams and antibiotics. You can ask for the names from your vet and buy them from the pet store to provide them to your chicken. I will recommend you to follow the entire course of antibiotics as mentioned by the vet along with the antifungal creams or ointments.

I use antibiotic medicine (as per the vet’s recommendations) and I apply the antifungal cream once after cleaning the vent area thoroughly. You have to clean the area regularly before applying the antifungal cream. As mentioned above, trim the feathers around the vent area as that will make it easier for you to clean the vent area. It will also make it easier for you to apply the antifungal cream around the affected area.

FAQs

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the vent gleet in chickens. Read on to know the answers to the questions that people commonly ask when their chicken is suffering from vent gleet infection.

Is Vent Gleet Contagious?

Yes, the vent gleet is quite contagious. As the vent gleet is a fungal infection, it can be easily transmitted from an infected chicken to another bird. But this can be transmitted by a cockerel only when you keep the infected chicken with the uninfected ones.

Hence, you have to quarantine the infected chicken immediately as soon as you get to notice the first signs or symptoms of vent gleet. If possible, call your vet immediately.

Can You Eat Eggs From a Chicken With Vent Gleet?

Yes, as far as I know, you can eat the eggs coming out from the chicken infected by vent gleet. You have to wash the eggs properly before using them and cook them well. If you’re giving medicine, however, you shouldn’t eat the eggs until you have left a suitable wash-out period.

If you don’t want to use the egg, then you can throw them out. Many people may not be able to eat that egg due to hygiene issues but you can, if you want to.

There is no harm in having the egg from the chicken infected with vent gleet. In case of confusion, you can ask the vet for more details. If the vent gleet condition is very severe, then it is better to avoid that egg.