Prolapsed vent??

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iam4hymn

iam4hymn

Chirping
Jun 21, 2015
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Georgia
Can someone tell me if this is a prolapsed vent? This is my favorite hen and lately she has not been laying very often. When she does her eggshells are very thin and the whites of the egg are very gelatinous. Today she is very messy in her bottom area and seemed to have a mucous part and possibly a membrane hanging out of her vent. I pulled that out, but her whole bottom area smells odd. She is acting like her usual self, but I need to know what is going on so I know how to treat her. Thanks! (Gross looking pictures I know, but we are all chicken people, right?
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I just cleaned her up and pulled this out of her. It is a soft shell of a collapsed egg. Only a small portion of it was a little calcified. It seemed to be stuck to the wall of her vent. I had to peel it off, but as soon as it came out and she decided it was out for sure she seemed to go back up inside. I will check her again a little later tonight. Sheesh!

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iam4hymn said:
I just cleaned her up and pulled this out of her. It is a soft shell of a collapsed egg. Only a small portion of it was a little calcified. It seemed to be stuck to the wall of her vent. I had to peel it off, but as soon as it came out and she decided it was out for sure she seemed to go back up inside. I will check her again a little later tonight. Sheesh!

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As @MrsBrooke mentioned it did look like a prolapse. I am glad you were able to remove the soft shell egg. (Good job!)

It also sounds like the vent went back in (contracted). If you can, keep her separated for a couple of days so you can monitor her. Offer extra calcium (oyster shell free choice and you can crush a TUMS to offer her as well). If she still seems a little swollen at the vent, you can apply some honey or hemorrhoid cream to help reduce swelling. A warm epsom salts bath is helpful for swollen/prolapsed vent as well.

Even if you are feeding a layer feed, make sure there is oyster shell available if you haven't already done so. Soft shell eggs can be due to a lack of calcium and/or vitamin-nutritional deficiencies. It wouldn't hurt to offer some poultry vitamins as well.

Did the odor go away one you removed the egg and cleaned her up?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems
https://poultrykeeper.com/egg-problems/soft-thin-or-missing-egg-shells/
 
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I hope she was able to pass the egg and contents cleanly without getting any stuck inside her. That can be how EYP starts.

x2 on everything @Wyorp Rock said. :) You did a great job.

And an update on the odor, please!!

MrsB
 
The odor did not seem to be there this morning, but she was "dripping" poop. She still seems to be trying to push something out and her feathers are messy again. I will read up on gleet since I am not familiar with it.
 
What you see dripping could be the contents of the egg from yesterday (yolk and white) or she could be trying to lay another egg that is soft shelled. If you can, keep her separated so you can monitor her.

If she seems to be having trouble you can give her a soak in a warm epsom salts bath and give some extra calcium. This may help her along.

Here's some info on vent gleet:
http://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment-html/
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/09/vent-gleet-symptoms-causes-and-natural.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/vent-gleet-aka-nasty-chicken-butt

In case you need more info on egg binding and prolapse:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic.html
 
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You can lube up your gloved index finger and see if she has an egg stuck... A warm-water Epsom soak on her hind end can help the muscles relax and aide in passing anything.

Definitely check out gleet symptoms. :)

Post a photo of her bottom, too!

Keep us posted!

MrsB
 
Well, my fave hen seems to be doing much better. Her feathers by her vent are still little dirty, but she has no odor and is not leaking anything out of her vent. She is also no longer prolapsed which is a good thing! She just needs to retire completely from the egg laying business and just enjoy retirement!!
 
iam4hymn said:
Well, my fave hen seems to be doing much better. Her feathers by her vent are still little dirty, but she has no odor and is not leaking anything out of her vent. She is also no longer prolapsed which is a good thing! She just needs to retire completely from the egg laying business and just enjoy retirement!!
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Glad to hear she is doing better!

Thanks for the update.
 

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