chcken with swollen anus

[jones1885]

HI everyone - please bear with me as a newbie. I have one of my favorite cochins who has a swollen anus that looks like a half of a red tennis ball. All the feathers are picked out. Any help for me (and chicken of course!!)?

thanks in adance

 

[CTChickenMom]

How old is your Cochin? It sounds like your chickie may have a prolapse. Your other chickies will pick at it (because it's red and not normal), hence the missing feathers. Did you feel it? If it's hard, she may have an egg stuck. If you have a stuck egg, I'd lube her bum with some olive oil and soak her bottom in some warm water. If it's soft and pliable, use some Preparation H and gently work it back in place.

I'd bring her in the house and let let her rest in a crate of some kind for the night. The pecking will only get worse. My sister found one of her hens this morning with a similar situation and ended up taking her hen to the vet. The poor hen was distraut and tired and the others had blood on their beaks. Definitley separate her from the others.

 

[teach1rusl]

I agree with CTchickenmom. Bring her in and put her in a crate. If you can feel something solid in the swollen area (like an egg), some say soaking the bird in warm water and gently working at the area can help the egg come out. But if you don't feel anything, it could be a prolapse resulting from laying an egg already. I've read that the Prep. H can work. Sounds wierd, but I remember reading about sprinkling sugar on a prolapse too. But I'd do a search on prolapse first before trying THAT, because I could be recalling the wrong information. I sure hope your girl recovers fine...

 

[jones1885]

Thanks so much. I better get busy. How hard is it to soak a hen in warm water and how do they behave when you do the lube job? I am fairly new at chickens and this is my first chicken issue. I pray for good success as she is one of my favorites.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Type the word prolapse into BYC's search. You'll get a number of posts about this problem, with some of the same remedies listed here, plus other remedies and more details of how to do various procedures. It should give you a better picture of how you can help your hen recover.

Good luck!!