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we were gromming our grey breeders today and notice one ahad a foul smelling vent/ has anyone had that. The other seemed to have a swollen vent. Are they getting ready?? Do they need a vet??? Someone told us it was a sign they were getting ready? Any help is appreciated. Thanx

Don't know what part of the world you are in so its hard to tell. Up here in Michigan its still too early.

Check the food intake and lighten up on the green veg's try yellow or orange types of veg's. Give more calcium and try Pretty Bird Gold in their diet and look into a splash of Ultimate. Messy stools that the bird won't clean off are usually just diet induced (as in my experience) but by all means take a sample down and have it Gram Stained by your vet. Maybe he/she will suggest something. Its always easier to take in a Gram Stain then the whole bird for an exam and cheaper also!

I do my own Gram Stains here but they are not usually that expensive.

Foul smelling feces can be a sign of a few illnesses including gastro enteritis (which actually has several causes itself), anerobic spore-forming bacteria and yeast. I would suggest that at the very least you take a fresh fecal sample to your vet to have a gram stain and cytology performed. I have seen this in several species over the years and I can now walk into a room with a bird with one of these issues and "smell out" the problem.