Fen Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 HELP! I've lost most of my chooks to vent gleet, my poor husband had to cull some of them as they were so poorly! The kids, hubby and I are all upset. Does anyone know anywhere that I can get around 8 Bantam girls, don't mind which breed. I've tried a few local breeders, but no luck. The sad bit is we're waiting to take delivery of our Eglu Cube! If anyone knows of anyone with bantams for sale in Kent ideally, please get in touch. Many Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Goodness, I am sorry to hear about that. I have never heard of vent gleet though - what is it? Try the back of Practical Puoltry for breeders in your area (I do know a place in Berks,but I guess it may be too far?) I hope you find some nice new hens soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Don't know if this place is any use to you. They're at Maidstne. http://bournvalle-bantams-and-bunnies.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fen Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Hello, Thanks for all the ideas! I am in the process of contacting Bournvalle bantams (Thanks Fur 'n' Feathers)! Vent Gleet is decribed as this:- Noxious smell, scabby vent and herpes virus is the cause. It can affect chooks over 1 year and there is no reason for its development. Unfortunately, it is contagious. My girls started showing signs by balding around the vent, then passing blood when laying, the vent then became scabby and mucky followed by the chicken becoming egg bound. Three of ours died before we realised what it was, then hubby had to cull all others showing symptoms. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Poor you - I've seen pictures of this condition and it's really not pretty. I thought it was a kind of thrush type infection, based on the article I've read, but what your poor chooks have had sounds far worse. I'm not in your area, so can't help with finding chooks, but I wish you good luck in your search for some new girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Pimlott Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 How upsetting, wish we could help but you are just a little to far! Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Am sorry to hear of the dreadful time you have had. Good luck with your quest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I am in the process of contacting Bournvalle bantams Glad the web details seem helpful. Let us know how you get on. The condition sounds horrendous. Is it treatable if caught early? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fen Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Thanks for all your support! Despite researching, I couldn't find any recommended treatment for Vent Gleet other than humane culling. It's a terrible shame. If anyone has heard of any treatment for this condition, I'd be pleased to hear about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Thanks for all your support! Despite researching, I couldn't find any recommended treatment for Vent Gleet other than humane culling. It's a terrible shame. If anyone has heard of any treatment for this condition, I'd be pleased to hear about it. I can't help but be concerned that research into diseases which affect cheaply replaceable critters (not that most of us think of them like that) is not going to attract funding. Without funding, how much research is there likely to be? I've had dogs, cats and hamsters and now hens. Where is the money most likely to be made? The least likely source is from the cheapest: hamsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 If it's caused by the herpes virus, there probably is no cure within current technology - humans have to put up with herpes infections as well (though of course they are not so nasty for us). Maybe when a cure is found for the human version, it can be used on animals as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Sorry to hear about your chooks. Good Luck finding new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Thanks for all your support! Despite researching, I couldn't find any recommended treatment for Vent Gleet other than humane culling. It's a terrible shame. If anyone has heard of any treatment for this condition, I'd be pleased to hear about it. Off to check in my back issues of Practical Poultry - I've seen it somewhere - not that it's going to help you now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Ok, I'm back. It was in the december edition of practical poultry, Q&A page 21 if you have a copy. The reader's bird had already had 2 courses of antibiotics which had made no difference. The advice is: ....opinions differ on whether this is a herpes based venereal disease, or a form of candida similar to thrush in humans. There is no instant cure...the best way to treat this is to wash the vent in a very mild disinfectant like Barrier V1 and apply aloe vera gel. It will take a long time but can eventually clear up. Feeding live yogurt can also help, especially since you mention your bird has had two courses of antibiotics.....if a vet diagnoses candida, nyastin may be prescribed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fen Posted April 9, 2008 Author Share Posted April 9, 2008 I visited to Bournevalle Bantams (again thanks Fur & Feathers!) Wow! shes got giant bunnies, pigmy goats, ducks, turkeys, sheep, rescue battery chickens! alongside the chickens that she's breeding from. I got 6 Pekin hens and 2 cockerells - they've been reared together so no fighting there. She also had some beautiful Silkies and De anvers which I would have loved, but decided to keep it simple by having all Pekins and hopefully soon will have some chicks! Question: One of my old girls eggs are smeared with blood, is this anything to worry about? Given that we've lost the majority of our girls to this Herpes/thrush virus I'm a bit concerned as to whether this is a symptom of the virus or fairly normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 Sorry to hear about your troubles . Superjules submitted a post recently which mentioned "vent gleet". It does sound nasty. http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=386942&highlight=#386942 Re the blood on eggs, I believe it can be caused by a burst blood vessel (perhaps if the egg is larger than usual?) so isn't cause for concern if it only happens occasionally. (Hope I'm right .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 There was a talk that some of the people who post on the forum went on recently (Thornes?) After the talk someone posted that they were advised not to use Jeyes Fluid to clean out the chickens because it can cause Vent Gleet Can anybody confirm or add to what I've heard please? I don't use Jeyes Fluid but there may be other people who do. Out of interest...did you use it Fen? So sorry to hear about your chickens. So upsetting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Cathy, you're right - it's in the link I've posted just above your post . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpops Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I know of some beautiful ones in basildon essex - let me know if this isn't too far - I think they'll be gone by the weekend though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fen Posted April 10, 2008 Author Share Posted April 10, 2008 Hello, Yes I have used Jeyes Fluid before on the shed! Crikey! well, I'll put a stop to that - (just a pre-caution). Now all birds are fine....I kind a wish that I had contacted this site before thinking all was lost with my old girls, it seems that with a little TLC I could have saved some! Thanks for the advice re the bloody egg! I'm happy that all is well in the chicken shack! Fen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Chooks Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Its difficult to believe that disinfectant can cause a viral infection. Herpes infections in humans (both zoster and simplex)are very treatable by drugs such as aciclovir(formerly spelt acyclovir) and other more expensive related agents. They are available topically, orally and for intravenous route. The same source in his talk suggested Clostridium botulinum was a problem in shredded bark but actually is quite widely found in soils is it not and therefore often in fit and well chucks' GI tract?!?!? It is only when deprived of oxygen that it becomes a big problem ie in canned food in humans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Re the blood on eggs, I found these posts which should reassure you (I'm always nervous dispensing advice in case I get in wrong ). http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22174 http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21268 http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18481 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Its difficult to believe that disinfectant can cause a viral infection. Herpes infections in humans (both zoster and simplex)are very treatable by drugs such as aciclovir(formerly spelt acyclovir) and other more expensive related agents. They are available topically, orally and for intravenous route. The same source in his talk suggested Clostridium botulinum was a problem in shredded bark but actually is quite widely found in soils is it not and therefore often in fit and well chucks' GI tract?!?!? It is only when deprived of oxygen that it becomes a big problem ie in canned food in humans. Opinion is divided (well it was in December's issue of practical poultry anyway!) over whether vent gleet is caused by a herpes-type virus or if it is actually some kind of yeast infection. As a woman I can understand how contact of your girly bits with something like jeyes fluid could cause a floral imbalance enough to cause thrush. Suesteve lost a load of chooks to botulism I believe, so it can affect poultry, although I don't know how proven it is that it grows on bark. I'm not saying that everything Frank says is gospel but a lot of it has foundation. He has been keeping chickens all his life and his father before him so personally, I'd take his advice on chook-related matters any day of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Glad to hear the visit was successful Fen. What a selection Sorry, can't help about the bleeding, but hope it's nothing serious. You've been through enough already. Hope it sorts out successfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...