Chicken attacked - possible prolapsed vent? Graphic photos

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I feel pretty happy with what I was able to accomplish tonight! I was successful at the debridement of mostly all the necrotic tissue on her vent and able to insert it back in and it stayed after trying a few times and calming her down! I hope it’s still in tomorrow morning when I go to check on her! I followed what you had suggested, I used an epsom salt spray and tweezer and just wasn’t afraid to lightly tug with that and some q tips! She had a very slight amount of blood but it went right away and then I was able to spray again and used the ointment I had and gently pushed it back in! I got a picture of the pieces and a picture of the vent before inserting back. I really wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing this had you not explained how you did yours. Your and @Eggcessive ’s help has been such a blessing!

You’re really going all out for your hen! That’s great that you were willing to take on this difficult task. I’m sure your hen didn’t like the process, but I bet she felt better afterwards. We are pulling for you and your girl! Whatever happens with her, you’ve given her the best shot you can.

 

[micstrachan]

It looks like you are doing a great job with her! You will both be in my thoughts. Please keep us posted.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

You’re really going all out for your hen! That’s great that you were willing to take on this difficult task. I’m sure your hen didn’t like the process, but I bet she felt better afterwards. We are pulling for you and your girl! Whatever happens with her, you’ve given her the best shot you can.

You’re really going all out for your hen! That’s great that you were willing to take on this difficult task. I’m sure your hen didn’t like the process, but I bet she felt better afterwards. We are pulling for you and your girl! Whatever happens with her, you’ve given her the best shot you can.

I definitely feel I’m doing my best with her, hopefully she recovers.
You mentioned that with your hen it took 3 times of debriding the necrotic skin and reinserting the prolapse before it stayed in. Was this over the course of 3 days?
It was back out (not as far though) this morning and there was some more necrotic skin, I couldn’t really get it though as it wasn’t well formed. This afternoon I was able to get it off and reinsert again, she was able to poop and it came out for a second then actually went back in. I’m really wishing it stays in tomorrow!

Also, I was able to get the betadine, I diluted it and used it to rinse the wound. I did it early afternoon and just a little bit ago for her afternoon cleaning so I hope that helps.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I definitely feel I’m doing my best with her, hopefully she recovers.
You mentioned that with your hen it took 3 times of debriding the necrotic skin and reinserting the prolapse before it stayed in. Was this over the course of 3 days?
It was back out (not as far though) this morning and there was some more necrotic skin, I couldn’t really get it though as it wasn’t well formed. This afternoon I was able to get it off and reinsert again, she was able to poop and it came out for a second then actually went back in. I’m really wishing it stays in tomorrow!

Also, I was able to get the betadine, I diluted it and used it to rinse the wound. I did it early afternoon and just a little bit ago for her afternoon cleaning so I hope that helps.

That all sounds encouraging to me! CWs vent plus some intestine kept re-prolapsing when she would pass poop or an egg (it took a few days of low light for her to stop laying eggs). I actually ended up suturing her vent partly closed to stop her prolapses. I don’t think that’s an option with diseased tissue though. The suture and removing dead tissue are I think what helped CW turn the corner and heal her prolapse.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

That all sounds encouraging to me! CWs vent plus some intestine kept re-prolapsing when she would pass poop or an egg (it took a few days of low light for her to stop laying eggs). I actually ended up suturing her vent partly closed to stop her prolapses. I don’t think that’s an option with diseased tissue though. The suture and removing dead tissue are I think what helped CW turn the corner and heal her prolapse.

Gotcha, thank you for explaining. I went out this morning and her vent was still in! I also noticed a dramatic reduction in the infection smell she had, there is still a faint smell, but nowhere near as bad so the betadine and antibiotics must really be helping! She isn’t laying still which I’m happy about, I hope she doesn’t for a while still. I’ll update again in a few days

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that all your hard work is helping.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

So my hen Honey seems to be doing really well, both the antibiotics and iodine solution seem to be what helped kick her infection. As far as her vent goes, the second time I had corrected the prolapse it stayed in and has prolapsed since! There was a larger scab/piece of dried dead skin over the top but that came off easily 2 days ago when putting on the ointment. Now her vent looks pretty normal except that her skin looks somewhat irritated.
Her abscess after I cut the bottom has been doing well, no oozing infected liquid and it looks like it’s starting to scab. She has been picking off dead skin crisps so I’m glad she’s caring for the wound. Honey started eating solid food and treats, maybe not as much as I would have thought, but still she’s eating. I don’t think she is drinking a ton but I’m not that concerned yet.
She is tired of isolation though so she really enjoys when I put her out in the smaller dog crate with the mosquito netting covering her to hang out with her friends. It cracks me up because my rooster always does his courting dance to her when she’s in the crate and he may leave for a minute but then goes back, she was definitely his favorite prior to the dog attack. The other hens will spend time around her too and it has been good for her because she will drink her water, eat her food, preen herself and just act like a normal chicken. Starting tomorrow I am going to be treating her wounds once a day and continue checking her progress.

A question I have is around her irritated skin, if anyone can answer. What should I do for it around her vent? Also I cut the feathers not plucked them and there is a little patch that collects her droppings, what should I do there?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So my hen Honey seems to be doing really well, both the antibiotics and iodine solution seem to be what helped kick her infection. As far as her vent goes, the second time I had corrected the prolapse it stayed in and has prolapsed since! There was a larger scab/piece of dried dead skin over the top but that came off easily 2 days ago when putting on the ointment. Now her vent looks pretty normal except that her skin looks somewhat irritated.
Her abscess after I cut the bottom has been doing well, no oozing infected liquid and it looks like it’s starting to scab. She has been picking off dead skin crisps so I’m glad she’s caring for the wound. Honey started eating solid food and treats, maybe not as much as I would have thought, but still she’s eating. I don’t think she is drinking a ton but I’m not that concerned yet.
She is tired of isolation though so she really enjoys when I put her out in the smaller dog crate with the mosquito netting covering her to hang out with her friends. It cracks me up because my rooster always does his courting dance to her when she’s in the crate and he may leave for a minute but then goes back, she was definitely his favorite prior to the dog attack. The other hens will spend time around her too and it has been good for her because she will drink her water, eat her food, preen herself and just act like a normal chicken. Starting tomorrow I am going to be treating her wounds once a day and continue checking her progress.

A question I have is around her irritated skin, if anyone can answer. What should I do for it around her vent? Also I cut the feathers not plucked them and there is a little patch that collects her droppings, what should I do there?

Wow, look at Honey’s bright and happy little Face!!! After so many pictures of her back end, it’s so great to see her cute expression!!! I am really happy that she’s doing well; you’ve done an excellent job with her!

The cut feathers won’t regrow until she molts, but I think I’d still leave them alone. You could put something like triple antibiotic ointment on irritated skin, but I’d probably just leave it all open and clean.

Unfortunately, I expect that her flockmates will pick at her back end, which is a problem that I’m wrestling with right now. I’ve tried a few different anti feather picking lotions to try to discourage the behavior. One of the chicken wound ointments like those would be another thing you could apply to her irritated skin...

 

[Eggcessive]

She looks so much better! You have done an amazing job with her. Coconut oil or Vitamin A&D ointment would be good on the irritated skin around her vent. Good luck.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

Wow, look at Honey’s bright and happy little Face!!! After so many pictures of her back end, it’s so great to see her cute expression!!! I am really happy that she’s doing well; you’ve done an excellent job with her!

The cut feathers won’t regrow until she molts, but I think I’d still leave them alone. You could put something like triple antibiotic ointment on irritated skin, but I’d probably just leave it all open and clean.

Unfortunately, I expect that her flockmates will pick at her back end, which is a problem that I’m wrestling with right now. I’ve tried a few different anti feather picking lotions to try to discourage the behavior. One of the chicken wound ointments like those would be another thing you could apply to her irritated skin...

Yeah I figured I should post a photo of her cute face. It’s funny because I didn’t really think chickens were cute before, but she has changed my mind. There is something about chickens eyes that suck you in!
Tomorrow I’ll be taking care of her wounds just once a day in the mornings so hopefully that will help he irritated skin as well. I wish I could put her out with her flock mates soon, but she still has a bit to go before I would feel comfortable with that especially since there is the risk of fly strike. Also my rooster I know will be all over her once she’s back because he is obsessed with her lol.
At what point do you think I could put her back with the others?