vent/intestine issues? IBDv?

Hi Guys!

I'm new here! Please help- any ideas, suggestions, advice is appreciated!

I have a 4 year old Ameraucana, Lady, that has had this 'growth' about an inch or two under her vent for 2-3 years now. Her behavior has never changed (she's the flock-boss- bossy and active), she has never stopped or slowed egg laying (she lays good, large eggs), handsome and well groomed, good appetite, her poop is inconsistent- some times runny, sometimes solid (but we feed our girls table scraps, so all of their poop is inconsistent) and it some times runs a bit on her bum feathers; however, the bump/growth/swelling has seemed to get a bit bigger over the last year/few months and she seems to be hot all the time, even when the other girls are not- red comb and panting (be we do live in AZ). None of our other hens show similar symptoms. We have had one unexplained chicken death, but it was 120F outside that day and several neighborhood chickens also passed that day. Certainly nothing else like this. Our Wellsomers have bumble foot on and off and one of our girls is always a bit disheveled with messy feathers. I check frequently for lice, etc and have no problems with them.

Lady had pasty butt as a chick and since we initially thought this was a vent issue, we've treated as such- over the last two years, varying in frequency from 3 times a week to once a month, I have warm water and epsom salt soaked her lower half (she seems to enjoy this) and then put PreparationH on the mass (she accepts this, unless she needs to lay an egg, then she hates it). At first this seemed to help, at least to reduce the size, but it has never gone away over several years.

The only remotely close in description (but not in symptoms or signs with the rest of the flock- i.e. contagious) is Infectious Bursal Disease virus. Any opinions, suggestions or other ideas?

Please help! Thank you, Cristina and Lady

Attached below, Lady's bum after a warm water soak and PrepH, vent north, growth south; it is about 50% larger now. Below that, Lady's bum on a good day.

That looks a great deal like an umbilical hernia.

Interesting. I guess it has never been bad enough to pinch her intestine so that she died.....

I had something like that once.....

You might be able, after a warm relaxing bath, manage to gently squeeze some of it back inside her.

Thank you for your input!! I'm assuming you've had a case like this that resulted in death? Or do chicks with this just never make it this long? It seems pretty tender when I soak and touch it and she gets a bit restless; since she's had it for so long, do you think it is imperative that I push it back in? Since it seems to be getting larger and she is always panting and hot, I've been debating a round of antibiotics... thoughts? Suggestions on kinds?

Thank you for any help! We don't have a poultry vet out here and NO ONE seems to have any ideas even if we did!

cfrank said:

Thank you for your input!! I'm assuming you've had a case like this that resulted in death? Or do chicks with this just never make it this long? It seems pretty tender when I soak and touch it and she gets a bit restless; since she's had it for so long, do you think it is imperative that I push it back in? Since it seems to be getting larger and she is always panting and hot, I've been debating a round of antibiotics... thoughts? Suggestions on kinds?

Thank you for any help! We don't have a poultry vet out here and NO ONE seems to have any ideas even if we did!

Click to expand...

I am basing my input on what I know about an umbilical hernia in humans.

So, it can be fine for years, but sometimes a little more pops out and then the trouble starts.

The question is did enough squish through the hole so that the intestines are now pinched and causing pain or worse case making the intestine die off.