HELP! Hen with very bloody vent! (Graphic images)

[glloyd203]

UGH my poor hen! I just went out to check on my birds and one of my hens was standing very still, so unlike any of them, and when I approached I realized her backside was COVERED in blood. At first, her vent looked totally normal but open more than it should be and gaping a bit. It's clear that the blood came from her vent, but there is no sign of a wound or anything. I wrapped her in a towel and took her inside and put her in a dog crate, and at this point there was something sticking out of her vent. I thought maybe she was trying to pass an egg, but it's clearly an organ of some kind. It looks almost like a prolapsed vent but it's clear that her vent is normal and this is something else protruding. I have her in the crate with a towel and some food and water, but I have no idea what to do next because I have nooo idea what's happening!!!

 

[FeatheredFriends&Horses2]

I'm sorry! That is a prolapse, just from a little further in the tract. Gently insert it back in, and keep her calm and with food and electrolyte water. I'd keep her in a dark area for a while until it heals up to throw off her laying cycle and prevent her from trying to lay an egg and prolapsing again.

 

[glloyd203]

I'm sorry! That is a prolapse, just from a little further in the tract. Gently insert it back in, and keep her calm and with food and electrolyte water. I'd keep her in a dark area for a while until it heals up to throw off her laying cycle and prevent her from trying to lay an egg and prolapsing again.

Oh wow thank you, that's so helpful. What exactly is prolapsed, can you tell? Just a different part of the rectum, or another organ entirely? Also, any idea what I should clean her with that would be best? THANK YOU!

 

[glloyd203]

So whatever is hanging out of her will not go back in at all, and every time I tried, it not only fell back out but it seemed like it was really hurting her each time. Any other ideas of what I should try??

 

[Dovya]

How is she doing?

 

[glloyd203]

How is she doing?

Actually she seems a lot better today, does not seem to be eating much but I've been giving her water with a dropper and I put some ACV in it. There is no more blood and from what I can tell her vent actually looks surprisingly normal now, nothing hanging out of it, but she's super pasty and leaky around the bum... I've never seen vent gleet in person but I'm thinking it must be that since there is so much leakage. I've been doing some reading and plan to try to treat it that way, but any advice would be much appreciated. I did notice that another hen has an irritated vent, not nearly as bad but it looks like there is a small tear. I'm wondering if our male duck has been trying to mate them We've had them together for 5+ years and that's never happened but I'm sure it's possible

 

[FeatheredFriends&Horses2]

Actually she seems a lot better today, does not seem to be eating much but I've been giving her water with a dropper and I put some ACV in it. There is no more blood and from what I can tell her vent actually looks surprisingly normal now, nothing hanging out of it, but she's super pasty and leaky around the bum... I've never seen vent gleet in person but I'm thinking it must be that since there is so much leakage. I've been doing some reading and plan to try to treat it that way, but any advice would be much appreciated. I did notice that another hen has an irritated vent, not nearly as bad but it looks like there is a small tear. I'm wondering if our male duck has been trying to mate them We've had them together for 5+ years and that's never happened but I'm sure it's possible

That’s good, sometimes it will go back in on its own given some time. But it’s more likely to prolapse again now, so you need to make sure to keep her in a dark area to give it time to heal. I’d clean it up with iodine. Yes, male ducks can really mess up a female chicken, if possible, I’d separate them for a while.

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that the male duck or the other chickens are nit pecking each other’s vents. Chickens may have a prolapse while try to lay, and the red tissue attracts pecking and cannibalism. That might have been what happened to your hen. Honey or sugar paste (just a couple of drops of water and sugar) can help decrease swelling of the cloaca which has prolapsed. Keep the prolapse red tissue moist with the honey or a mild ointment so that it does not dry out, and keep trying to push it back in, if it comes out. Watch her and keep her in a dog crate until you are sure it stays in.

 

[glloyd203]

Thanks all! I gave both hens a bath in epsom salts and then sprayed bluekote on their vents. They are finally starting to eat and drink a little on their own which is so reassuring. The other hen didn't have any signs of prolapse but her vent was a bit bloody and very irritated... honestly looked kind of necrotic, as does the original hen's. I do think there is some gleet going on at least with the original one. What do y'all think about putting honey/sugar on the vent when there is obviously an open wound... is that okay? I've also read that PrepH can be good? THANK YOU!!!