Chicken Vent Problems

The chicken vent is called the cloaca. The cloaca size is dependent on the breed and size of the chicken.

When a hen lays an egg the oviduct is pushed through the cloaca and retracts after the egg is laid. If it doesn't retract and a part of the oviduct remains outside the body then prolapse occurs. Bloody tissue can be seen protruding from the vent causing what is known as a bloody vent in chickens. This often occurs in hens that are overweight, older or very young.

This isn't a frequent occurrence but when it does happen it can be difficult to cure because as the hen continues to lay the oviduct comes out of the cloaca again and again. If the hen is not separated from the flock the other chickens will pick at the vent possibly causing death. 

If you have questions that you would like to ask a vet, use the service below. Ask a Vet has qualified doctors that can answer questions about chicken health.

Chicken Vent Questions

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White Liquid from Vent 
My chicken has a white running substance coming from her vent, and she's losing feathers on her stomach.

White Leghorn with bloody vent 
I had 6, now 5, 7 month old white leghorn hens, I've noticed over the past few weeks that she had fewer feathers around her vent and seems like a couple …

Chicken Vent Problems 
Question Chick with distended butt: I have a chick that is not thriving. She's much smaller than her mates and not as active. She is about 3 …

Blood and liquid coming from vent

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Question Blood and liquid coming from vent: I have an established layer who I noticed had a very bloody vent yesterday late afternoon (fresh blood) …

Brown bloody looking vent

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Question Brown bloody looking vent: One of my laying hens seem to be missing most of the feathers around her vent, what is there for feathers are all …

Bleeding from rear

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Question A one year old White Shaver (or Leghorn) has dried blood in the feathers below her vent and bleeding from rear. There are three hens of …

Vent problems

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Question Vent problems: I have a chicken that has what looks to be a ruptured vent. It is swollen, bloody and seems to be stretched out. The chicken …

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