OMG what is this? PLEASE HELP *Warning VERY graphic picture*

[cluckcluck42]

She's out of pain now.

 

[easttxchick]

I'm so sorry you had to go through this-some things we can't fix, no matter how much we wish we could.
You made the right decision.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I'm sorry you had to make that decision. At the very least you did what was best for her.

As to what it is, it certainly does look like a prolapse. They may be most common in egg laying hens, but I've seen them occur in male birds (non-chickens) too, so they aren't an egg-related problem per-say.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Thank you. I don't feel guilty just terribly, terribly sad. I need to rule out that this could be a sign of Cocci. I have a 7 month old pullet that was keeping to herself so I brought her inside and got a fecal test done today. Came back no sign of worms or cocci, but cocci doesn't always show up. I've been wondering what to do ever since. Can cocci cause prolapse? Or is this completely unrelated and just bad luck?

 

[DPC poultry]

kill it

 

[easttxchick]

I have to say that the issue was not caused by cocci or cocci related. I'm thinking prolapse.

 

[mypicklebird]

That looks like a prolapse that has been traumatized (pecked at) by the hen herself or her flock mates. Prolapse usually happens to point of lay hens, or older girls with other problems. 6 weeks? that bird looks older than that- or maybe the camera is just making her feet look big, but it looks like she has adult feathering. 6 weeks would be really young for her to prolapse herself. Cannibalism is another possibility. If you end up with another bird looking like that, you need to consider that one or more of your flock has a cannibal problem. Is the flocks nutrition good? Do they have access to grower or layer feed at all times, and limited or NO corn/scratch? Do they have plenty to do during the day & are not crowded?

 

[cluckcluck42]

Quote:
I just got them a week ago but they are definitely six weeks old. They are all fully feathered and this was an Orp and was quite a bit larger then her buddies. She was the only girl blue orp so it sucks. Nutrition is fine, they are on a mix of medicated chick starter and grower, brooder space is large, there's nothing within the flock that would explain this. I've never had a cannibalism problem and don't foresee having one, but I'm sure the hatchmates were pecking at it after it prolapsed.

Poor thing

I wish I understood why these things happen. That was such a startling thing to find when I was expecting to find her sick from cocci or something. At least it is not cocci.

 

[mypicklebird]

I know she is gone now, but if you still have her remains- is the material hanging out of her vent, or her 'belly button' area which would be an inch or two in front of her vent- more toward her keel. Being she is that young, this could of been an infected/abscessed navel, that subsequently ruptured. Most chicks with infected navels don't live to 6wk though. If the other pullets are doing ok, no diarrhea ect- this was hopefully an isolated incident. Do check everyone's bottoms though- if there is a pecking/bully bird in there- you will see pecked bottoms in other birds soon.

 

[MandyH]

That does look like the navel ruptured. I never seen it in one that old, but have seen it in birds a little younger.