My chicken suddenly had severe prolapse overnight.

[MeLydia]

I had to put down my 4 year old Ancona hen this morning due to severe prolapse. I'm just wondering what could have caused this. About 3 days ago she disappeared. I thought she was a victim to a predator. Then yesterday she shows back up, but I notice she's pretty lethargic so I put her in a pen by herself. She seems ok besides having severe diarrhea. I give her food with VetRX mixed in and water with ACV and probiotics. I never saw her drink, but she did eat some. She was even preening herself. Then this morning she's shivering and her comb and feet are blue. I then noticed she couldn't stand up and lots of her intestines are hanging out. Not just a little prolapse, I mean A LOT! I noticed some worms near her vent yesterday, but no signs of prolapse. What could have done this much damage overnight?

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry for your loss. She may have had a prolapse or was vent pecked/injured by a predator, got flystrike, and then her intestines came out. If she had a prolapse , the other chickens will be attracted, and might pull out the intestines. They might have seen it before you let them outside. Flysrike is when flies lay maggot eggs on a wound or a poopy vent area, and the maggots hatch and eat into the skin. It can be deadly in hot weather when flies are about. Check the vents of your other chickens for maggot larvae moving about. Many times older hens with other problems may get flystrike due to poop not clearing the area below the vent.

 

[MeLydia]

Very sorry for your loss. She may have had a prolapse or was vent pecked/injured by a predator, got flystrike, and then her intestines came out. If she had a prolapse , the other chickens will be attracted, and might pull out the intestines. They might have seen it before you let them outside. Flysrike is when flies lay maggot eggs on a wound or a poopy vent area, and the maggots hatch and eat into the skin. It can be deadly in hot weather when flies are about. Check the vents of your other chickens for maggot larvae moving about. Many times older hens with other problems may get flystrike due to poop not clearing the area below the vent.

Yeah, it might be the maggot thing. Her bottom was so messy yesterday, I couldn't see anything but poop. I had her separated from the others, so I know it didn't get pecked. Thanks for the info!