Something coming out of my chickens vent....

[Wyatt0224]

Hello everyone! I just went outside to let my chickens out and I noticed something hanging from one hens vent. It's quite long, about 4-6 inches. The bottom is dark I think because it has been touching the dirt and mud. However, the part closest to her vent is a color between a creamy yellow and white. She doesn't seem very comfortable, as she's only walking upright and doesn't seem to be able to crouch down. Does anyone know what this is or what happened?

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I'm not sure, but it sort of looks like a soft shelled egg that broke inside or something similar. Have your chickens been dewormed recently?

What I have done in similar cases is get a glove (plastic grocery bag works too), pick her up and pull it out. Be slow, careful and try not to rip it. It would be good to post a picture of what you get out.

 

[Wyatt0224]

They haven't been dewormed recently. Is she in danger of dying if it is an egg that broke inside of her? I will try and pull it out soon and post an update.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with TheKindaFarmGal in that it looks like a possible broken egg membrane, and the thick white of the egg is making it look more stringy. Make sure that your hens are getting layer feed for 90% of their nutrition, and i like to use both chopped up egg shells and have oyster shell available to help produce strong shells. Hens that do this may be of risk for internal laying and egg yolk peritonitis down the road, since egg material can grow bacteria. I had a hen who had an egg membrane hanging out, and she died about 18 months later. She wasn't a good layer, and at the end became sick for a few days before dying.

 

[Wyatt0224]

That's really sad. That do receive layer feed and occasionally (once every couple days) receive a treat. I will monitor her for the rest of the day.

 

[Eggcessive]

That's really sad. That do receive layer feed and occasionally (once every couple days) receive a treat. I will monitor her for the rest of the day.

It's not necessarily a death sentence, but that is what happened to mine in the one instance I found that. Internal laying and EYP are very common in backyard flocks. Some viruses can also cause soft-shelled eggs, which are prone to breakage. Here is some reading about the signs of EYP or internal laying:
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/tag/laying-issues/
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/disorders-of-the-reproductive-system/internal-layer-poultry
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/poult...eproductive-system/egg-peritonitis-in-poultry

 

[Wyatt0224]

This is what I managed to pull out of her vent.

 

[PapaBear4]

Yuck. How's she seem now? In my flocks I've seen that kind of thing coupled with a prolapsed vent. Sometimes they work so hard to get whatever-it-is out they can't get their insides back inside. I agree that it's certainly not a death sentence. Since it looks like your hens are similar looking I'd recommend tagging or banding her somehow so that you can watch for future issues. It'd be worth your time to check on her over the next few days.

Good luck to you!

 

[Wyatt0224]

I have all of my red girls tagged. I checked on her before I went to work and she seemed to be acting normal. Only time will tell.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Hope she recovers. It's definitely not a death sentence, I've had a few instances of this and the hens were fine.