Need some advice about a prolapsed vent

[Tmatthews]

I went to feed my chickens this morning and all was normal. I went to check on them again and I noticed one of the hens has a reddish pink bubble hanging out of her vent. I went and got some surgical gloves and eased it back into her. She didn't squabble or seem in pain when I did this. As my finger was up there I couldn't feel any obstructions. There is no blood. When I put everything back in she pushed it right back out. I am very flustered at this point. I've been getting a thorough course this winter on ailments of chickens!

I lost one to sour crop, saved another one from sour crop, lost another one due to internal laying, I now have one who is sick and I'm treating her for what seems to be canker.....and now I find this prolapsed vent!!!!!

I love my chickens to death but these past few months have really taken a lot of joy out of raising a small backyard flock!

Anyway....any advice on how to get this vent to stay put? If I can't get it to stay in I fear I will have to cull her.

By the way....she isn't slowing down from it. She's flying around the coop and everything. The other chickens also don't seem to notice her problem. They aren't picking on her.

Thanks for any help.

 

[aolexa21]

My Amerucana had this same problem a month ago. After 3 days of warm bath soaks and trying to push it back in we decided it was best to cull her. Once a hen has a prolapsed vent they will always have this problem. If your other hens do catch on to her injury and see the red they probably will peck her to death. Its a terrible thing and I feel your pain. We have had our chickens 7 months and have now lost 3 out of 6.I thought chicken keeping was pretty laid back sooo not the case. Good luck to you.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you let her go, how much is hanging out? I have one that has a little bit hanging out when she bears down, but it goes back inside. Maybe just watch her a bit, especially if it is just pink. It may be normal for her, and you just happened to notice it.

 

[Tmatthews]

Aolexa21.....I know!!! Total frustrations!

Eggcessive: I would say about an inch or so is hanging out. In fact I just went down to check on her and I thought maybe it went back in, but upon closer inspection I saw it was still out. So I smeared hemmroid cream on her (I read somewhere to do that to take the swelling down) and I eased it back in. I let her go and watched her and her vent was pulsating and it almost came out again, but went back in. So who knows?????

Thanks for the replies!

 

[pwand]

Keep putting it back in, it may take a few days. How old is she?

 

[Tmatthews]

She is 2 years old

 

[Eggcessive]

Read this link--go down to Prolapsed Vent--it is about making a pressure bandage or diaper to hold the prolapse in overnight. You might try it, but it would definitely take two people to put on her. Here is the link: http://www.littlehenrescue.co.uk/Pages/Medicaladvice.aspx

 

[Tmatthews]

Thank you Eggcessive! I am going to check on her and if it's still out, I will do the diaper thing tonight and keep her in a small dog crate I have. I have to tell ya, I've learned more on this forum about chickens than any book I own on them! And it's nice to be able to add to my knowledge of how to treat many chicken ailments! It's come in handy MANY times! Thanks again!

 

[Tmatthews]

Update on the hen: I went to feed the chickens and checked her out and her vent looks a little swollen but is no longer prolapsed. She did lay an egg that had a trace amount of blood on it....but that's to be expected considering. So.....all I can do is monitor the situation! But I went and bought everything I need to make a pressure diaper if it happens again.

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm glad she is better. If it happens again, and is severe, you may want to cage her in a dark room 16 hours a day (or you can cover the cage.) That and cutting back on feed will stop her from laying, although it may take a couple of days, to let her vent heal. They can even give hormone injections every 3-5 months, or spay them to stop the laying altogether.