Ackkk! gross ropey thing hanging from butt! UPDATE! GREAT NEWS!

[jeannieo]

OMG! I went to clip some poopy butt feathers and was doing a general all around check and when I checked the butt of one of my BO's she had a poopy looking thing hanging from her vent so I went to clear it away, I thought it was just a runny poop and it was sort of ropey like (don't know how else to describe it) so I gently pulled and I pulled about 4" out

. It looked like it was made of hair or feathers or maybe hay? Hope I didn't do the wrong thing but I cut it, not all the way but there is still something there. She didn't flinch or squawk or anything when I cut it so I don't think it is part of an internal organ. Has anyone seen this before?

It really sort of freaked me out. Boy, I had no idea the education I would be getting when I decided to get chickens!

 

[gmendoza]

Something she got into and ate.Could even be a piece of twine or small rope.

 

[jeannieo]

Should I still try to get it out by pulling gently, not forcefully. It seemed to be coming out pretty smoothly. Is it possible it could be twisted around any organs? Sorry to sound so dumb. Don't want to hurt my girl!

 

[EweSheep]

Are you sure it is not tapeworms? If not, something she could have eaten.

 

[Sjisty]

I think I would give her a chance to expell it herself. Just keep an eye on her. Good luck!

 

[jeannieo]

how big would a tape worm be? I don't think so, when I cut it, it just sort of looked like an inanimate sort of thing, not alive or anything.

 

[Wynette]

Just let her pass it on her own. Don't be upset by this, but hens are born with two ovaries...they only end up using one, and sometimes they shrivel up & get expelled from their vent...I'm thinking this MAY be what you are seeing. If so, the "rope looking" portion would be attached to a larger chunk of...something that looks equally as icky. But, if that's what it is, it'll pass right out without assistance from you. It's nothign to worry about!

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
that would be my next guess!

I agree, let it pass on its own.

 

[jeannieo]

Quote:
THANK YOU! but if the ropey looking thing was attached to an ovary or something, as you say, "equally as icky", wouldn't it have bled when I cut it?

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
THANK YOU! but if the ropey looking thing was attached to an ovary or something, as you say, "equally as icky", wouldn't it have bled when I cut it?

I doubt there would be blood because it is "dead," for the lack of a better word, if this is what it is. FYI; if it was a tapeworm, it would look like a cooked flat piece of macaroni with segments.