The Horrors of Vent Gleet

This week was pretty lousy.  One of the chickens known as The Grump (there are two) started looking really haggard at the beginning of the week- red, irritated-looking vent, generally grumpiness (even worse!)  nasty shits, and a drippy backside.  It kept getting worse, and I planned to bathe the offensive-smelling nastybutt chicken on Friday afternoon after work.  The bird barely protested the warm sudsy water, but upon cleaning the chicken, it was apparent to me that something was seriously wrong.  The vent looked prolapsed.  I knew this was bad.  

I put the bird in quarantine until I could figure out what the problem was.  I realized that it was Vent Gleet, the chicken version of a yeast infection YUCK!!  We weren't about to put her back in with the flock in that condition.  Quarantine consisted of a rubber bin with shavings and some wire clamped over the top in the basement next to the furnace where it's nice and warm. 

Flash-forward to this morning when we were planning to "do the deed" as we were referring to it- kill the chicken and put her out of her misery.  The question was what to do with the bird afterward.  We have always planned to eat these chickens as well as their eggs, but who wants to eat a sick chicken?   Is it even safe?  I tried to contact the Ag Extension program, but it was Friday afternoon and they were closing in 20 minutes.  The best thing to do was to go through with the slaughter, and put the carcass in the freezer until Monday, when I can contact somebody at the Ag station. 

So, that's what we did.  The chicken formerly known as The Grump is in a pot in the refrigerator.  I hope that it will be safe to eat, but if not, I still know we did the right thing.  I asked at the feed store yesterday about when they'll be taking orders for chicks and they said in a few weeks.  I think there might be some more butchering in our near future, too. 

The Grump was a good chicken.  She may have been the first to lay an egg just a few weeks ago.  I feel terrible that she had to suffer for a few short days with a drippy gross butt, but it's done now.