Chicken Illness- Vent Gleet? btdt?

[mumm]

I'm a suburban dweller so I hope it is okay to post here.  I see the other chicken threads and can't seem to log into backyard chicken to ask this, so please forgive me if I'm intruding.

I have 11 16 month old chickens and 4 of the Australorps have "dirty bums" as my kids call it.  They've had diarhea and the poop appears to get caught on their feathers and then coated in the dust when they dust bathe.  But tonight I finally caught one (after just watching for a few days) and her skin is all red below her vent.  It looks inflamed, possibly infected.  I don't see any open wounds or pus.  Just bright red skin.  I thought the diarhea might have been from eating too much watermelon but that was several days ago now and I'm still seeing watery poop.  They are acting just fine- wandering the yard, staying away from the dogs and people, getting into the compost, etc.

The closest I can come up with is vent gleet which is not supposed to be too common.  Also, last week someone laid an egg with no shell.  It looked like just the membrane.  And some shells have had that swirly sort of texture on the outside that (the best I can figure with the help of Dr. Google) is from a chest cold.  They are laying in regular numbers (8-10/day) and other than what I mentioned are mostly normal looking.  I have had a few huge eggs recently.

Any suggestions?  Thanks!

[Chicky2]

Hmmmm, periodically my chicken's poo will change, according to what they've eaten.  If they are acting fine, I really wouldn't worry.  Just wash 'em off and watch them.  Sometimes my chicken's butts will get dirty, and again, just depends on what they've been doing/eating/into.

As for the egg w/no shell, sometimes that happens.  I wouldn't worry about that at all.  I've seen plenty of those over the years.  Sometimes new layers will do that, and sometimes old ones.  Not a real concern.  You can give them oyster shell to make sure they're getting enough calcium, if you don't think they get enough.

Swirly pattern...Um, I think that's just one of those things.

I think chickens do some of the strangest things, and have seen many myself over the years. 

I hope this helps somewhat.  Please don't hesitate to ask more ?s anytime.  I'm sorry your thread seems to have been ignored.

I did find this if it helps at all.  http://ultimatefowl.atwiki.com/page/Vent%20Gleet

[hildare]

we have one chicken in particular whose name is 'black butt.'  we think it's from eating goat feed or more bugs than the other chickens, but she's had it for a LONG time, and even went broody and hatched a chick (whole other story) and it's not black anymore : so from something she was eating. 

i have no idea about the egg..  are you giving layena or something like that or are they totally free range?  you might have to supplement for calcium...  keep us updated on what you find out!

[mumm]

Thanks.  It seems to have resolved itself.  They get a layer feed and they free range and get (possibly too many) kitchen scraps.  They still have runny poop but that could be from all the extra watermelon, cucumber, etc they are getting now that they didn't get a few months ago.   I'm trying to take a hands off approach with the hens and not  intervene too quickly.  I mean, if my kid had a red bum I would watch it, adjust diet and then wait and see if it resolved on its own. 

I've also had "normal" eggs recently without any shell-less ones.   I have yet to lose a chicken and I think I need to realize it will happen at some point.  (the having a chicken die that we can't eat I mean)   Thanks.