VENT EMERGENCY!!

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry this has happened. I tend to agree with everything Rebascora said. Reproductive disorders such salpingitis with lash eggs, and internal laying are very common in todays laying hens.

 

[Justin0621]

I would go for where it's attached to the chunk,so you don't accidentally clip vent then examine the chunk and let us know what you find or take pictures.

The second photo is up close and personal with the attached part of the vent and string. Sorry it's so not so appealing. Do you mean examine the chunk and cut it open? I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

 

[coach723]

I would do as @rebrascora suggested first. Do the bath, and use a lubed finger and see if you can get her to pass whatever it is first, then cut it open to see what it looks like inside. There is no rush really, it may take some time to do the bath and the rest. It could be a lash egg (which is not an egg at all), it could be a malformed egg, it could be something she ate. If it's a lash egg then it would be an infection that antibiotics MIGHT help. If that is the case then a vet would be the best option to determine which antibiotic it responds too. Once you are able to see what the object/mass looks like inside you can get better suggestions.

 

[Justin0621]

I would go for where it's attached to the chunk,so you don't accidentally clip vent then examine the chunk and let us know what you find or take pictures.

I read your response wrong. I'm sorry. So clip at the chunk. Thank you again! I'll post pictures after I dry her a little

 

[rebrascora]

In the second photo, it looked like the large blob was no longer attached but from what you say I'm wrong, so I would leave it attached and see if you can gently ease out whatever it is attached to by bathing and lubricating and gently applying some pressure by pulling it. My bet would be that the "string" is an egg membrane and it is possibly part of a lash egg and the rest is stuck inside.
The outlet from the gizzard is much smaller than the vent, so if it was something she ate, it would have stuck in the gizzard and not even made it into the intestines let alone the vent, so the most likely conclusion is that it has come from her oviduct, which points to it being a "lash egg". You really do need to help her pass whatever it is attached to because otherwise it will prevent her from pooping and that will kill her within a few days..... so try not to be too frightened as she may well die if you do nothing.
Like others, I can assure you that that thing is not going to bleed if you cut it open, but if it is still attached, I would try to use it to draw whatever else is in there, out rather than cut it off. A nice warm Epsom salts bath in dim light should help her to relax a little, which may help her to pass the rest with your help. Good luck and keep us posted and a photo of that thing cut in half when you get it all out.

 

[Justin0621]

In the second photo, it looked like the large blob was no longer attached but from what you say I'm wrong, so I would leave it attached and see if you can gently ease out whatever it is attached to by bathing and lubricating and gently applying some pressure by pulling it. My bet would be that the "string" is an egg membrane and it is possibly part of a lash egg and the rest is stuck inside.
The outlet from the gizzard is much smaller than the vent, so if it was something she ate, it would have stuck in the gizzard and not even made it into the intestines let alone the vent, so the most likely conclusion is that it has come from her oviduct, which points to it being a "lash egg". You really do need to help her pass whatever it is attached to because otherwise it will prevent her from pooping and that will kill her within a few days..... so try not to be too frightened as she may well die if you do nothing.
Like others, I can assure you that that thing is not going to bleed if you cut it open, but if it is still attached, I would try to use it to draw whatever else is in there, out rather than cut it off. A nice warm Epsom salts bath in dim light should help her to relax a little, which may help her to pass the rest with your help. Good luck and keep us posted and a photo of that thing cut in half when you get it all out.

Okay! So I lubed up my fingers and dug deep down in!.... yuck! Haha. What I tried to do was see if I can feel an end to the mast. I could not. So I cut the mast and let me tell you, it stunk when I cut it open! But I do know it was a lash egg. So I shoved the rest in there. We did not see any blood or anything which is good. I am giving the flock probiotic and electrolyte water currently. Cross your fingers and let's hope she is okay!

 

[Chickassan]

Awesome! Good job, i bet she's glad to have that off her tush.

 

[rebrascora]

I'm not sure I am totally following you.....

I understand that there is more of that mass inside her and that you can't feel an end to it and you were not able to get any more of it out.... this is not good as she will die with that rotten stuff inside her. You have identified the object that you cut off as a lash egg but I don't understand this bit...

So I shoved the rest in there.

..... shoved what in where? Did you give her a nice long soak in a warm Epsom salts bath?... a couple of teaspns of salts to a gallon of warm water. This will help her to relax which may help her to pass the rest of that mass that you can feel inside. Gently massaging her abdomen whilst she is soaking may also help and possibly giving her a half a calcium tablet crushed and sprinkled on some soggy bread or scrambled egg. Calcium will help her muscles to contract to push that mass out. If she doesn't manage to expel it, it may well prevent her from pooping and she will die of toxic build up within a day or two.

You have done well so far but she is going to need antibiotics to help her beat this and most importantly, that mass needs to come out.