EMERGENCY! **Graphic Yucky Photos**

[ChickyCh00k]

One of my Buff Orp hens (3 yr old) has suddenly (within the last 3 days) developed a huge mass above her vent. I have given her calcium tablet and epsom soak. I also tried to help clear the vent out (as it seems to be "plugged" with whitish/yellowish gunk). Now, her vent is bleeding. She has been acting normally up to this point, but her poop has been like egg yolk/whites for 2 days and her bum became VERY dirty. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

 

[alinas2010]

Oh no, I’m sorry about your hen. How is she doing? Is she lethargic at all? You have her separated, right? Somewhere flies can’t get to her? When was the last time she laid?

Is the part with the “gunk” in it her vent or a hole near her vent? For that matter, do you see any injuries near her vent?

I’m going to tag @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous for help.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Oh no, I’m sorry about your hen. How is she doing? Is she lethargic at all? You have her separated, right? Somewhere flies can’t get to her? When was the last time she laid?

Is the part with the “gunk” in it her vent or a hole near her vent? For that matter, do you see any injuries near her vent?

I’m going to tag @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous for help.

She does not have an injury on the outside that I can see. There is no flystrike. Her vent is extremely swollen and very hard. The gunk in her vent seems to be plugging it (it looks like dried eggs). First, I was concerned for vent gleet, but when I went to wash her, I felt how hard and protruding her vent is and I freaked.

I am unsure of when she laid last (I have 19 hens, so it's a bit difficult to know with the brown egg layers, of which there are several) Most of my 3 year old girls lay pretty sporadically, especially this time of year. Her comb has been nice and red and she has been looking great until I noticed her dirty bum about 3 days ago.

Then, I noticed the weird poo and there was a nearly shell-less egg laid about 3 days ago as well (that I now believe she expelled). Since I gave her the calcium, washed her, soaked her in epsom salts, and tried to feel in her vent with my finger, she has been acting poorly and it looks as though her comb is a bit purplish. I am now concerned for EYP.

We recently wormed the whole flock with Valbazen (this past Tuesday was the 2nd dose), and I noticed her dirty bum on Thursday.

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be lash egg or material from salpingitis that she is trying to pass, but she also could have oviduct cancer. It is hard to tell. The blood does seem like maybe her vent was injured or pecked, but again hard to know. If she is not super weak and lethargic I would clean up her vent with soap and water, and keep her separated. A human calcium citrate with d or other calcium tablet or Tums might increase muscle tone so she can pass the possible lash material. 300 mg of calcium orally is fine, and break it into pieces if using a Tums. Unfortunately both salpingitis and cancer are common causes of death in hens over 2-3 years. Can you offer some fluids with electrolytes or sugar, and some mushy wet chickens feed.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

It could be lash egg or material from salpingitis that she is trying to pass, but she also could have oviduct cancer. It is hard to tell. The blood does seem like maybe her vent was injured or pecked, but again hard to know. If she is not super weak and lethargic I would clean up her vent with soap and water, and keep her separated. A human calcium citrate with d or other calcium tablet or Tums might increase muscle tone so she can pass the possible lash material. 300 mg of calcium orally is fine, and break it into pieces if using a Tums. Unfortunately both salpingitis and cancer are common causes of death in hens over 2-3 years. Can you offer some fluids with electrolytes or sugar, and some mushy wet chickens feed.

Thank you for your response! I did give her a calcium citrate w/ D tablet when I washed her up (just before writing this post this afternoon). I'm quite certain she wasn't pecked, as she didn't start bleeding from her vent until I stuck my finger in it and attempted to help her pass the "mass". I feel really bad that whatever I did made her bleed, but I was desperate to help her get whatever is stuck in her out.

She is not actively bleeding anymore, but I have not been able to push the portrusion in or get the mass out. I have cleaned the area well and will watch her closely - if she doesn't improve (or gets worse) this week, I will likely euthanize.

It has all been so sudden. She was literally perfect looking before Thursday. I have been putting electrolytes and probiotics in the water since the second Valbazen dose (Tuesday).

Should I be giving her a calcium tablet daily at this point?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, I'd give her Calcium citrate daily for a week, see if she's able to expel the material.

I also agree, it sound like she may be trying to pass lash material.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Ok. Thank you

I agree, I'd give her Calcium citrate daily for a week, see if she's able to expel the material.

I also agree, it sound like she may be trying to pass lash material.

Ok. Thank you. I appreciate everyone's responses. I will continue the Calcium + D tablets and hope for the best.

 

[alinas2010]

I’m sorry, I hope it doesn’t come to euthanizing her. Keep us updated. Perhaps another warm Epsom salt soak would help if she likes them and tolerates them well. If they stress her out, I would steer away from that, though. Maybe something like coconut oil on her vent would help soothe it if it’s raw at all from any injury.

 

[Eggcessive]

I probably would not insert a finger into her vent again as well. Let us know if she passes anything and how her droppings look. Has she passed any droppings today?

 

[ChickyCh00k]

I definitely will not be attempting to assist manually again. She is no longer bleeding and has been up and about today. Vent still looks "plugged", but looks like feces instead of fried egg. Slightly less swollen. Her droppings overnight were liquidy (probably whatever could pass around the blockage). I have given her a Calcium + D tablet and put lubrication on her bottom. I am very much hoping she can pass whatever is in there, but I have also resigned to the fact that she may well have a terminal issue.