tapeworm or prolapse or ?? - please help!

[hennyjenn]

This afternoon, I noticed one of my chickens was very lethargic while ranging. Upon closer examination, her butt was covered in white mucous and there was a 1.5" long thing sticking out of her cloaca. It was about 1/2" wide and whitish yellow. I came in to do some research and went back out to look again and take a picture, but whatever it was is no longer sticking out of her. I would be very grateful for help. Thanks!

edited to add: She is a ten month old black australorp who is caged with 9 others hens at night in a coop with wood shavings on the floor (they sleep on the roost). By day, she roams the rather barren chicken yard or if I'm around, I let them roam the property which is on the edge of a wood and creek.

 

[Imp]

Doesn't sound like prolapse or roundworm to me. Could it have been a dirty poop covered feather? or maybe egg remnants hanging off her. If she continues to act lethargic check for a stuck egg.

Good luck

Imp

 

[hennyjenn]

It was sticking straight out, not hanging down limp, so I don't think it was egg remnants, and it was too thick to be a feather. We've isolated her for the night, and I'll check her out again in the morning. I'll probably give her a bath too.

 

[dawg53]

It could be a tapeworm, was it flat looking? Normally a section would drop off onto the ground. If it did drop off, more than likely it would be eaten by the same chicken or a different one,thus spreading the parasite. If you suspect that it is a tapeworm, worm with valbazen. It's a liquid that can be purchased at a feed store or jefferslivestock.com...use one half cc/ml on a piece of bread and give it to your chicken,do that to all your chickens. Repeat in 2 weeks. Throw the eggs away in the garbage for a total of 1 month (2 weeks for each dosing.) FYI...valbazen kills other worms also.

 

[hennyjenn]

I'm going to keep the camera outside today so if I see it again I'll be able to take a picture. This morning she is still lethargic and her litter has several large clear wet spots.