scab (?) near vent....pic included

[kimf]

So I posted about an hour ago on the FB page that one of my BOs had pasty butt. On further inspection (insert embarrassment) it is not pasty butt. Her vent is clear and clean. (sigh of relief) However, she has this scab below her vent and a bald toushie. Is this anything serious? She is all wet in the pic because I had been soaking her to see if it was just dried poo, but it is really stuck tight and I think it is a scab.
She does seem kind of "swollen" in the area too. But again, vent is clean and clear!

Help???

Thank you!!!!

 

[nurse_turtle]

She is quite swollen there and the scab you see is a pressure wound from where the belly presses against the ground/floor/perch. You need to check her for egg binding. You're gonna have to glove up, lubricate and insert a finger into her vent to feel for an egg. Is the swollen area firm or does it feel fluid filled. The bird may have ascites, internal laying, egg binding, etc.

 

[kimf]

ok..so if I feel an egg, what do I do?? The area is swollen and firm, but soft. More like a water balloon or one of those squishy toys kids have that bulge when you squeeze them than anything else I can think of to describe it. If I don't feel an egg what do I do? Is the baldness from being swollen and rubbing on the perch too?

I was just on here a week or so ago looking around and thinking how lucky I have been that I have not had any serious problems. Guess I jinxed myself.

 

[kimf]

I gloved up and olive oil lubed up and checked. I couldn't feel an egg. I felt some sandy poo that I was able to get out, then some less gritty poo. Scooped out maybe a tablespoon. I had my whole index finger in. I did see an egg in the box she was in, but don't know if it was hers or not. We have 5 that are laying. She still looks swollen. She is running around, eating the scratch and BOSS and acting pretty normal. I know this can get fatal though. What now?? BTW she did seem to enjoy the warm soak earlier when I was figuring out if it was poo or a scab.

 

[nurse_turtle]

I would read up on ascites in chickens.