Does This Sound Like The Start of Prolapse?

[corliss]

Last night I went out to shut the pop door and check that everyone was in. When I looked on the roost, Trouble, our white easter egger, was straining with her vent towards me and something pinkish and organ-like appearing at the vent opening. I ran back in to check on this forum what a prolapse looks like but wasn't successful. I returned to the coop to find Trouble had laid one of those rubbery like eggs, despite having already laid a regular egg that day. Am I getting upset for nothing (I've never seen a chicken lay an egg with such a clear view of the vent - maybe this is always what is looks like?) or is this a possible sign that she may suffer a prolapse?

 

[Judy]

What did the vent look like after she laid the egg?

 

[corliss]

Her vent looked pinkish but without anything protruding. I examined her again this morning and the vent opening puckered in and out while I was looking and looked a little larger than usual. She didn't lay today, thank goodness, but I am worried about the next time she does. Her last egg wasn't gigantic but a little bigger than normal for her. Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[edselpdx]

Sounds like normal laying to me, except the soft shelled eggs seem to take them by surprise, so they often lay in odd spots. I wouldn't worry. Maybe make sure she's getting enough calcium to help prevent soft-shelled eggs in future. It's only a prolapse if the tissue is unable to go back in appropriately and completely after the egg has been laid.