Chicken attacked - possible prolapsed vent? Graphic photos

[HippieAtHeart]

It came off in small chunks and smelled foul. Sadly I did not get an after picture. This is a pic of the prolapse at the beginning, and it looked a lot like this but with a little more redness and bleeding.

Well that definitely looks like the shape of the mass I see on my hen. I will have to try and get it off soon. Do you think I should be treating for the prolapse once I do?

thank you for the photo!

 

[HippieAtHeart]

@Mixed flock enthusiast when I was cleaning her more tonight I discovered part of the smell which is she has a pocket of skin that was full of liquid, it didn’t have a color but it sure stunk. I pushed the liquid up out and then sprayed in vetericyn, pushed the excess out and the put ointment at the opening. I’m not sure if I will need to cut it open/off or not. The tissue where the liquid was is all a pale gray kind of color. I drew an approximate of where it is so you can see, the feathers there are just her wing. Do you have any thoughts?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

@Mixed flock enthusiast when I was cleaning her more tonight I discovered part of the smell which is she has a pocket of skin that was full of liquid, it didn’t have a color but it sure stunk. I pushed the liquid up out and then sprayed in vetericyn, pushed the excess out and the put ointment at the opening. I’m not sure if I will need to cut it open/off or not. The tissue where the liquid was is all a pale gray kind of color. I drew an approximate of where it is so you can see, the feathers there are just her wing. Do you have any thoughts?

A pocket of foul smelling fluid means infection; you need to open that up so it can be cleaned and drain. Open at the bottom of the pocket. Think of where you can make an opening that will allow gravity to drain the fluid out. Once open, flush the pocket with dilute (must be dilute about 1:30) chlorhexadine or betadine. If you don’t have those, I’d probably make a salt solution or maybe just use water; main point is to flush gunk and bacteria out. Make sure you wear gloves and do in bathroom or someplace you can bleach afterwards. Don’t use peroxide or alcohol. Do you have any antibiotics?

edit to add: a vet is a great idea, if that’s doable for you.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

A pocket of foul smelling fluid means infection; you need to open that up so it can be cleaned and drain. Open at the bottom of the pocket. Think of where you can make an opening that will allow gravity to drain the fluid out. Once open, flush the pocket with dilute (must be dilute about 1:30) chlorhexadine or betadine. If you don’t have those, I’d probably make a salt solution or maybe just use water; main point is to flush gunk and bacteria out. Make sure you wear gloves and do in bathroom or someplace you can bleach afterwards. Don’t use peroxide or alcohol. Do you have any antibiotics?

edit to add: a vet is a great idea, if that’s doable for you.

So I don’t have the 2 things you listed just vetericyn, should I use that? If not I do have epsom salt I could use. What should I use to open the pocket and how big of an opening? Also I don’t have antibiotics, I could possibly get some from TSC though. If I were to find a vet, how much do your think them working on an injury like this would cost? I have been feeling like this is over my head

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So I don’t have the 2 things you listed just vetericyn, should I use that? If not I do have epsom salt I could use. What should I use to open the pocket and how big of an opening? Also I don’t have antibiotics, I could possibly get some from TSC though. If I were to find a vet, how much do your think them working on an injury like this would cost? I have been feeling like this is over my head

I wish I knew! Maybe call around tomorrow? Ask for price of exam/wound drainage and course of antibiotics? If your chicken has survived this long and is eating/drinking/pooping then she has a decent shot at survival with treatment... However, the sooner the infected wound is cleaned out and she’s put on antibiotics the better her chances.... To do yourself, you’d need need something like a scalpel blade, maybe a very large needle (at least 14 gauge). This is basic vet work so even a vet not familiar with poultry could get the wound drained and clean. They can look up antibiotics too, if they don’t usually see chickens. Do you have a regular vet you can call? They might work with you if you’re a regular client...

 

[HippieAtHeart]

I wish I knew! Maybe call around tomorrow? Ask for price of exam/wound drainage and course of antibiotics? If your chicken has survived this long and is eating/drinking/pooping then she has a decent shot at survival with treatment... However, the sooner the infected wound is cleaned out and she’s put on antibiotics the better her chances.... To do yourself, you’d need need something like a scalpel blade, maybe a very large needle (at least 14 gauge). This is basic vet work so even a vet not familiar with poultry could get the wound drained and clean. They can look up antibiotics too, if they don’t usually see chickens. Do you have a regular vet you can call? They might work with you if you’re a regular client...

So my vet won’t deal with chickens, they had referred me to a place somewhat near me but my husband and I ultimately agreed that we would try our best to help our hen heal. I do randomly have a scalpel which I forgot I had so I can use that. I will have to check TSC for antibiotics, what should I get though, most say for cows?

 

[HippieAtHeart]

I wish I knew! Maybe call around tomorrow? Ask for price of exam/wound drainage and course of antibiotics? If your chicken has survived this long and is eating/drinking/pooping then she has a decent shot at survival with treatment... However, the sooner the infected wound is cleaned out and she’s put on antibiotics the better her chances.... To do yourself, you’d need need something like a scalpel blade, maybe a very large needle (at least 14 gauge). This is basic vet work so even a vet not familiar with poultry could get the wound drained and clean. They can look up antibiotics too, if they don’t usually see chickens. Do you have a regular vet you can call? They might work with you if you’re a regular client...

Also at what point would I know if an infection was taking over? Would my hen just pass or would there be signs?
I’m sorry for asking you so many questions.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So my vet won’t deal with chickens, they had referred me to a place somewhat near me but my husband and I ultimately agreed that we would try our best to help our hen heal. I do randomly have a scalpel which I forgot I had so I can use that. I will have to check TSC for antibiotics, what should I get though, most say for cows?

I’m using Oxytetracycline LA and giving it subcutaneously, 0.25 mL once every three days. I think that their might also be an oral form.

Here’s one link to dose in poultry:
http://www.poultrydvm.com/drugs/oxytetracycline
And
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/oxytetracycline-dose-tbsp-tsp.971134/

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Also at what point would I know if an infection was taking over? Would my hen just pass or would there be signs?
I’m sorry for asking you so many questions.

The foul smelling, fluid filled wound that you described indicates that her wound is currently infected. Any foul smell is likely an infection.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

So I opened the wound about 1/4” on the bottom and was able to see liquid coming out. I then sprayed strongly vetericyn down from the top of the abscess so it would come out the bottom. I put ointment on it as well. I also went and got her antibiotics so I got Terramycin and crushed up 1/4 tablet and mixed with her cat food for the afternoon. I’ll keep treating with the antibiotic for the 7 days. I have decided to go from 3 treatments a day to 1/2 depending. I hope she makes it. I just went back out and checked on her as she really did not like me spraying down in the wound, but she was up and eating food so that’s good. It’s hard trying to treat her as I just got these chickens and the previous owners just let them do there thing. She doesn’t seem terribly upset though when I visit her.