How to Get Rid of Vent Gleet in Chickens (From Someone Who’s Been There, Scrubbed That)
Let’s talk about something most backyard chicken keepers don’t expect to deal with: vent gleet. Sounds like a medieval curse, right? Unfortunately, it’s a real (and gross) condition that can affect our sweet, fluffy butts, especially if stress, heat, or imbalances in the digestive system are involved.
I’ll walk you through what it is, how to spot the signs early, and the exact steps I took when a few of my girls got hit with a bad case. Yes, it was messy. Yes, I created a “chicken spa tote” with a cut-out hole for their heads to poke through while I cleaned their vent area. Yes, you can steal that idea.
Let’s get you a better understanding of vent gleet so you can treat it fast and keep the rest of the flock healthy.
What Is Vent Gleet?
Vent gleet (aka cloacitis) is a yeast or fungal infection in the vent area of a chicken, caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a natural yeast that lives in the digestive tract. When things get out of whack (stress, bad diet, poor water quality, or heat stress), this yeast can take over, leading to a nasty, stinky, white discharge, red skin, and even feather loss around the vent.
This is not the same as pasty butt in a baby chick, though both affect the same general area. Vent gleet typically shows up in adult hens and affects the entire vent (cloaca), including parts of the reproductive and digestive systems.
Signs of Vent Gleet to Watch For
Keep an eye (and nose) out for these early symptoms of cloacitis:
- Sudden onset of dry or crusty vent feathers
- Foul odor near the vent area (a reliable sign that something’s off)
- White discharge or yellowish, pasty droppings sticking to feathers
- Red, inflamed skin around the cloaca
- Loss of vent feathers
- Decreased egg laying
- Lethargy or hunched posture
- Soft belly or signs of a sour crop
If you’re seeing more than one of these signs, it’s time for action.
Is Vent Gleet Contagious?
Vent gleet isn’t contagious in the way a virus is; it’s more of a condition of circumstance, triggered by things like stress, imbalanced gut bacteria, or a funky shift in the pH of the cloaca. But… and this is a big but(t)—it can spread through the flock under the right (or wrong) conditions.
If you have a rooster, pay close attention here: during mating, there’s direct cloacal contact between the rooster and the hen. That means if one chicken has a case of vent gleet or a yeast/fungal infection like Candida albicans, your rooster can spread it by transferring bad bacteria or yeast from one hen to the next during his rounds. Cloacal kisses gone wrong, basically.
So while vent gleet isn’t a classically contagious condition, the close contact between birds, especially with a rooster in the mix, can absolutely increase the chances of spread, particularly if multiple hens are being mated frequently.
That’s why I always isolate the affected hen and give her time to heal away from the rest of the flock (and especially away from any overzealous rooster). Trust me, your girl doesn’t need extra attention when she’s dealing with a fungal butt flare-up.
Possible Causes (And Why It Shows Up)
- Imbalanced Gut Flora: Often from poor diet, antibiotics, or lack of good bacteria.
- Stress: Especially heat stress, overcrowding, or sudden environmental changes.
- Contaminated Water: Dirty drinking water can mess with pH levels and promote yeast.
- Poor Coop Hygiene: Damp, dirty bedding can harbor bacteria and fungus.
- Underlying Health Issues: A sign of inherent weakness or other infections.
Basically, if a chicken’s immune system is off or the pH of the cloaca shifts, the door is open for bad bacteria and fungus to take over.
How I Treated It (The Chicken Butt Spa Day Plan)
First thing: Don’t panic. It looks worse than it is, especially the first time you see it.
Step 1: Clean the Vent Area
Give your hen a warm water soak with a little mild soap or Epsom salt. I used a plastic tote with a cut-out hole for her head to poke through. One chilled in there like a spa day while her bum soaked, the other wasn’t shy to let me know she wasn’t happy.
After 10-15 minutes, gently loosen and remove any crusty food excrement, dried discharge, or matted vent feathers. Pat dry with a towel.
Step 2: Adjust Her Diet & Add Apple Cider Vinegar
Add apple cider vinegar (with the mother) to her clean water—about 1 tablespoon per gallon—to help balance the pH of the cloaca and digestive tract. This creates an environment that’s hostile to Candida.
Add plain yogurt (no sugar!) or a probiotic supplement to boost good bacteria and restore balance in her digestive system.
Step 3: Apply Antifungal Cream
Use an over-the-counter antifungal cream (like one from the drug store for yeast infections) around the vent, just enough to cover the red area and adjacent regions. Do this once or twice a day for several days.
In more advanced cases, your vet may suggest metronidazole tablets or even a penicillin-type antibiotic if a bacterial infection is also present.
Step 4: Support Recovery
- Isolate her in a clean area for observation.
- Make sure she’s drinking plenty of fresh water.
- Give access to a dust bath and a flat surface to rest.
- Provide clean bedding and monitor her droppings as a well-formed dropping is a good sign that things are improving.
- Watch for improvements in her vent feathers and energy.
Prevention Is Everything
Once you’ve dealt with vent gleet, you’ll want to avoid it like the plague. Here’s how:
- Keep the chicken coop clean and dry.
- Offer probiotics regularly, especially after stress.
- Avoid giving too many treats that throw off the gut (looking at you, leftover pasta).
- Always provide clean water.
- Catch early signs before they escalate. Early treatment is the best way to avoid the worst-case scenario.
Final Thoughts From a Chicken Mom Who’s Been There
Vent gleet is gross, inconvenient, and just plain stressful for both you and your hen. But with a little warm water, some natural treatments, and a good treatment plan, you can turn things around.
The aim of treatment is to restore a healthy cloaca, support the immune system, and prevent future flare-ups. Think of it as a first aid treatment for the butt, one that honors the evolutionary development of the magical (and complicated!) anatomy of the cloaca.
And hey, if you’ve ever had to clean up vent gleet before your morning coffee, you’re a real one. This isn’t for the faint of heart, but it is part of being a backyard chicken keeper.
What questions do you have? Let me know in the comments!
Related Posts:
Understanding Pasty Butt in Baby Chicks
Everything You Need to Know About Chicken Poop
How Many Hens per Rooster?
Keeping a Clean Coop
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