Tippy has had a bare bum for about a year; we aren't sure if it is due to her being obese or nesting instead of roosting, but the skin is pest-free and healthy, so we didn't worry about it. I found her walking around the run on the morning of July 4th with something dragging behind her. Prolapsed vent? No, on closer inspection, it was a loop of her intestines protruding from a split in the skin . I brought her in to say goodbye to my husband before I euthanized her. He wanted to try to save her. We carefully washed the intestines and her bottom, coated everything with neosporin, and I put the intestines back in. They fell right back out. A bandage and wrap wouldn't stay in place, so I ended up putting in 3 stitches. We isolated her in a dog kennel in our office. A few hours later, she was drinking. We fed her some yogurt, then watermelon, and eventually feed. By the second day, she was pooping normally and hopping out every time we opened the door. We put her back in the coop on the 3rd night. The wound seems to be closed up, and she has not developed an infection. I am totally amazed! Now the question is-when should I take the stitches out? I don't want to leave them in so long that the skin grows over them, but I don't want it to split open again, either. I will get another photo of the stitches when she goes up tonight. Thanks for any help!
