What happened to my hen??

Lesa

Songster
11 Years
May 28, 2008
839
6
139
Upstate NY
This is not an emergency- since my poor hen has died. However, I have done searches and am trying to understand what caused her problem. I found her laying in the coop, with a very poopy butt and a bloody broken egg near her. I put her in a coop by herself and gave her a bath in the evening. Her vent area was clean and healthy looking- but below that, a part of her intestines (?) were coming out of her body. She was not bleeding and did not seem to be that ill. She expired this morning. What on earth happened?? I have gone over the anatomy info and I don't see how this is even possible?? Any info you can share, would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
I would really like to learn something about this problem... Does anyone have any ideas, they could share? Thanks!
 
I'm so sorry for your loss.

Are you sure it was her intestines and not her oviduct? The broken bloody egg suggests a prolapse. After the prolapse the other hens could have been attracted to the blood and literally pecked her insides out. They're slightly crazy when they see blood.
 
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The vent area was unharmed, and other than the blood on the egg, she did not appear to be bleeding...The moment I saw her acting "funny" I removed her, so I don't think the other chickens were aware of her issue. I am not sure what body part was exposed- but it was not coming out of her vent. Thanks for your reply.
 
Is there a chance of it being an aborted attack by a dog?
There would be small puncture wounds on the body, not a lot of blood, but when they squeeze the chicken, intestines can be forced out of the puncture wound.
If you still have her, and if it is possible for a dog to attack her in the coop, check on her back opposite where the innards are coming out for small round holes, probably only one or two.
 
I should have taken photos- I just felt so confused and bad that I didn't do it. No dog attack possible....
 
I would say either prolapsed vent, which does hang outwards, or some predator got to her underside.

Very sorry.
 

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