Ann Zotter

No worries about overstepping! We're new to this too. I'll take a look at those resources, thanks! We are absolutely sure that she's not eggbound, which is why her symptoms are so weird. I might try treating her for mites next, though it doesn't explain the vent spasms.

See, that's what I originally thought! But it's been MONTHS, so she would definitely be dead by now, plus she laid the prettiest eggs while we had her inside...

UPDATE: no improvement. Poor honey got three big doses of antifungal over the course of two days, then spent about six days outside in fairly warm weather for our area (30-40*F), I was hoping to see improvement. Still oozing fecal matter, it's now frozen to her bum after last night's drop in temp.
While observing her indoors for a couple of days, I noticed that her vent spasms or contracts frequently, as if she's defecating, but nothing comes out. I'm starting to wonder if it isn't a muscular issue. For her sake I'm pretty close to slaughtering her - it's not any of the run of the mill chicken problems (egg binding, yeast?, bacteria (she's too chipper, none of the other birds are sick)), and the cold seems to make the fecal oozing worse for her. I don't want to prolong her misery, but I also don't want to give up if it's something easily fixable.

One more pic, just in case someone else ends up having the same problems we are and needs more of a reference.
Most of the gunk below the vent is feces - we hadn't wiped her down before the picture.  

I did think of that... it has been unseasonably warm here, but I did skip the bath tonight. I'm keeping her inside for the evening, do some cleanup and another application tomorrow,  and see where we're at, both weather-wise and health-wise. I suspect we'll just opt to pop her in and out over the next few days.

She did start foaming at the vent, so I think yeast is definitely the issue. Here's hoping! The nice thing about the women's product is the applicators: works perfect for a vent!

Yup, we've got a large rabbit cage in our basement that we use as our animal hospital... nice and cozy, it's near our wood stove!

We don't light our hens. Last year the molt happened closer to February or March. It really doesn't seem to be a molt given how long it's been going on.

Great! I'll run and get the cream tonight. Prioritizing sick children over the sick chicken at the moment,  but I hope to start treatment Saturday or Sunday, and will update next week!

Regarding diet - we are currently using standard organic store feed, with kitchen scraps as an extra. We live in an area that does not allow free ranging, and our garden has not been productive enough to sustain our flock due to soil quality. We're slowly trying to transition to a more healthy and sustainable feeding plan for the hens, but it will most likely take a few years, especially since we're under snow here from October to April/May. My current plan to make immediate changes is a much more regular use of Apple cider vinegar in the water.

Here's the requested picture. Between the wiggly hen and the aggressively protective rooster, I couldn't get a great shot.
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I strongly suspect it isn't mites due to the lack of infection in the other birds over such a long time. Smell was hard to ascertain because I made the mistake of using lavender Epsom salts for her bath. She smells very pretty. Behind the lavender was a vague stinky dough smell, so I'm going to start with yeast infection treatment and see where it goes.

If yeast isn't the right guess, I assume I can use antibiotic ointment for bacterial infection, or topical Ivermectin for mites? I also have diatomaceous earth, so I can try that first...

I'm laughing so hard... only on Permies do you get asked for gross chicken butt pics along with vivid descriptions of chicken butt smell.
Dealing with a minor house emergency,  but I appreciate the input so far and will return soon with gory details.

Hi,

Perhaps y'all can help diagnose the problem. I have a hen who has lost all her feathers near her vent and has very red skin in that spot. This has gone on for four or five months now. We originally thought it might be a rough rooster problem, though none of our other hens had bare butts, just bare backs. Rooster is stew now, we gave it a month or so the see if feather growth would happen, but nope. She's got pasty butt like a tiny chick, she's skinny as a pole, but she's not being particularly bullied, she's still pooping and laying normally, and she's alert and spry. Her red butt makes me want to cry, though. I recently gave her an Epsom salt bath and a few days inside with extra food, Apple cider vinegar, and warmth to see if we could improve anything,  but it doesn't seem to have done much but make her antsy. None of the other chickens have the same problem, so it's not contagious,  or it's a very slow burn if it is.

For context, we live in a northern climate that was unseasonably warm until two weeks ago. The problem started over the summer, and we only just started getting below-freezing temps. Traditional coop with large run for twelve birds due to dumb city rules. Store bought feed supplemented with table scraps, garden clippings, and the occasional rogue free range day.

Thank you!