🚿 Vent Gleet in Hens: What You Need to Know

Let’s talk about something a little less glamorous in chicken keeping: vent gleet. Not the prettiest topic, but definitely one every hen keeper should know about.

If you’ve spotted a sticky, yellowish-white paste around your hen’s fluffy bloomers (instead of the usual neat feathers), chances are she might be dealing with vent gleet. Add in a rather unpleasant smell (sorry, it’s true!) and the fact that her coop mates might be avoiding her like she’s got bad chicken breath, and you’ve got the classic signs.

🐔 So, What Is Vent Gleet?

Vent gleet is basically an inflammation of the cloaca (aka the hen’s vent). It’s often compared to thrush in humans and is usually caused by a yeast called Candida albicans. In some cases, it can also be linked to the herpes virus, but if your hen doesn’t have a cockerel in her life, a vet will almost always treat it as a yeast infection.

🔎 Signs to Look Out For

The sticky paste is the giveaway, but there are other red flags too:

• Crusting on tail feathers

• A rather nasty smell

• Fewer eggs than usual

• Watery, loose droppings

⚠️ Heads up: Some of these symptoms can point to other illnesses too. If you’re unsure, don’t wait—give your vet a call.

🛁 Treating Vent Gleet at Home

The good news? With some TLC (and a little spa treatment), you can usually help your hen feel much better.

Here’s a simple routine:

1. Spa soak – Fill a bowl with warm (not hot!) water and stir in 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts. Pop your hen in gently so her bottom is submerged. She might fuss at first, but many hens actually relax and enjoy the soak—some even doze off!

2. Dry off – Lift her out and pat dry with an old towel.

3. Cream time – Apply an anti-fungal cream around (and just inside) the vent area.

4. Boost her gut – Add apple cider vinegar to her drinking water (just remember, no metal drinkers!) and give her a probiotic daily to help balance her system.

5. Repeat – Do this every two days, including reapplying the cream, until the gleet clears up.

If she’s not improving after a week and you keep a cockerel, it’s time to test for herpes virus.

💡 Can You Prevent Vent Gleet?

Here’s the tricky part: vent gleet has a habit of coming back. There’s no guaranteed prevention, but regular health checks, a balanced diet, and keeping water and bedding clean will all help keep your hens in tip-top condition.

🐓 Final Peck of Wisdom

Vent gleet might not be the most delightful part of chicken keeping, but spotting the signs early and stepping in with some hen-sized TLC can make all the difference. Your girls will thank you—with cleaner bloomers and, hopefully, a healthy egg basket!