Chicken butt issue

[Bellagrl]

Can it correct itself or do I need to take care of it

 

[Painted Calls]

You'll need to take care of it. The sooner the better.

 

[Painted Calls]

Run a search on this site for vent prolapse.

You will find loads of info on how to treat it.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Preparation H is good for treating prolapses. You can use a Q tip or apply directly with gloves.

 

[Bellagrl]

I figured I'd soak it then apply lube and push it back in tomorrow, based off what everyone said and research, unless anone has any other advice

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It needs to be taken care of now. The tissue hanging out will dry up and/or become necrotic.
Bring her in and give her a clean up and soak.
Apply honey, sugar pack, anti-inflammatory cream, prep H - whatever you have on hand to keep the tissue moist. See if you can push it in - it may not stay if it's swollen badly. If it doesn't stay in, then make sure the tissue has ointment/lubrication so it doesn't dry out.

See that your hen is drinking well (hydrated!). Give her extra calcium - 1 TUMS or 1/2 Caltrate to help with contractions and retention. I would also direct dose her with poultry vitamins if you have them - something like Poultry Nutri-Drench or Poultry Cell at 1cc per 3 pounds of weight.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I figured I'd soak it then apply lube and push it back in tomorrow, based off what everyone said and research, unless anone has any other advice

Preparation H and push it back in. Get the poo off first. If it wont come off just cut the feathers back and clean what you can

 

[azygous]

As @Wyorp Rock has said, she needs attention right now. It's okay to keep her up past her bedtime to get this seen to.

First, you need to give her a soak in warm Epsom salt water and clean her up. Then take another photo without all the poop garnish so we can assess the situation. Also, immediately give her a calcium supplement. It can be people calcium tablets, calcium citrate, gluconate, or even Tums or other calcium antacid. This will strengthen her contractions. It's why she may have a prolapse. She's trying to push the obstruction out and she's straining.

A hen gets into this predicament usually when she has an egg stuck inside her. The egg may have collapsed and that presents another set of problems. I just recently went through this with an elderly hen of mine. She had an egg collapse, and she had a prolapse, too. It took her eighteen days for it to resolve.

The blockage usually blocks the cecum where cecal poop is produced. Besides making cecal poop, the cecum is here excess fluids get reabsorbed into the body. When there's a blockage, all the excess fluid is expelled, resulting in the white watery deposits on the butt feathers. But it's also dehydrating your hen so she has an even harder time pushing the egg out.

Give the calcium and plenty of water to drink. She will be thirsty. You won't need to force her to drink. After the bath, use witch hazel to further clean the prolapse if she indeed has this. Try to push it in, but if she squawks in pain, stop. I like to use cortisone cream instead of Preparation H. But if that's all you have, use it. Or you can use antibiotic ointment or even Vaseline.

Keep her away from the other chickens. They will peck her bloody and then you'll have a real mess on your hands. She may resolve this by morning, or it could take days. Give a calcium tablet each day until she passes the blockage. The prolapse will retract on its own as soon as the blockage clears.

Keep her clean. You may need to wash her butt very gently twice a day until this resolves.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@azygous, what do you recommend washing with? Could a person use a little Dawn dish soap or do you recommend something else?

 

[TheMother]

As @Wyorp Rock has said, she needs attention right now. It's okay to keep her up past her bedtime to get this seen to.

First, you need to give her a soak in warm Epsom salt water and clean her up. Then take another photo without all the poop garnish so we can assess the situation. Also, immediately give her a calcium supplement. It can be people calcium tablets, calcium citrate, gluconate, or even Tums or other calcium antacid. This will strengthen her contractions. It's why she may have a prolapse. She's trying to push the obstruction out and she's straining.

A hen gets into this predicament usually when she has an egg stuck inside her. The egg may have collapsed and that presents another set of problems. I just recently went through this with an elderly hen of mine. She had an egg collapse, and she had a prolapse, too. It took her eighteen days for it to resolve.

The blockage usually blocks the cecum where cecal poop is produced. Besides making cecal poop, the cecum is here excess fluids get reabsorbed into the body. When there's a blockage, all the excess fluid is expelled, resulting in the white watery deposits on the butt feathers. But it's also dehydrating your hen so she has an even harder time pushing the egg out.

Give the calcium and plenty of water to drink. She will be thirsty. You won't need to force her to drink. After the bath, use witch hazel to further clean the prolapse if she indeed has this. Try to push it in, but if she squawks in pain, stop. I like to use cortisone cream instead of Preparation H. But if that's all you have, use it. Or you can use antibiotic ointment or even Vaseline.

Keep her away from the other chickens. They will peck her bloody and then you'll have a real mess on your hands. She may resolve this by morning, or it could take days. Give a calcium tablet each day until she passes the blockage. The prolapse will retract on its own as soon as the blockage clears.

Keep her clean. You may need to wash her butt very gently twice a day until this resolves.

I hope I never have to deal with this, but this is by far the most thorough explanation of the cause and treatment for a prolapse and for that I thank you. It helps to know why this happens in the first place, and what the calcium does! May this forever not afflict any of your poultry!