What is going on with my Hen? Large, swollen, red under vent. *Graphic photo*

[mamaamy]

Please help!

We came home from vacation yesterday and my 2 y.o. Black Australorpe had what looked like an egg hanging from her vent. It fell off soon after and appears to be a lash egg. Now her bottom is all red and swollen under the vent. At the top the tissue is red and ridged, looks like a brain. Near the bottom is a bubble that feels like a water balloon. I soaked her in Epsom salt bath and cleaned her up and isolated her. I'm not sure what I should do for her. She has been acting normal eating, drinking and exploring the yard.
Thank You!

 

[mamaamy]

Here's a photo if the lash egg she had hanging from her bottom

 

[Perris]

are you sure that's the right photo? looks like a bit of cooked chicken

 

[ChickNanny13]

I'm not sure but it's a possible prolapse, do a forum search ... I don't have any experience with it but lets ask some that may have ...

@Wyorp Rock @casportpony @azygous @WVduckchick

 

[rebrascora]

That is a prolapse which whilst it looks bad is probably the least of your worries. The lash egg is a major concern because it indicates that she has an infection of the oviduct. In the early stages it may respond to antibiotics but I think you are probably beyond that already. Her oviduct will become impacted with lash egg material which she may strain to pass and push the prolapse back out. The water balloon part of the prolapse indicates that there is also ascites (water belly) so she has a lot of serious issues going on and whilst you could spend a lot of time and effort trying to fix the prolapse, the Salpingitis will most likely cause her to die in a few weeks anyway. In the meantime you would need to keep her indoors to prevent fly strike and other chickens pecking at her prolapse, so she is not going to have much quality of life in that interim period as well as the discomfort of you trying to push the prolapse back in. Overall, I feel that it would probably be kinder to end it for her now. I know that will not be what you want to hear, but I recommend you do some research on Salpingitis and prolapse and make your own mind up. I would also hope that other knowledgeable members will ship in with their thoughts as I am aware that this is not a decision to be taken lightly.

In the meantime, keep her bathed and clean. Use Preparation H or honey on the prolapse to keep it moist and keep her indoors away from flies and other chickens' enquiring sharp beaks.

I'm sorry to pain such a bleak picture of her prospects.

 

[WVduckchick]

So very sorry. I defer to @rebrascora on this issue. I don’t have much first hand experience with it.

If it were me though, I’d try a few Epsom salt baths, keep her isolated, clean, and comfortable, and see how it goes for a few days.

Also if you have a scale, getting a base weight is a good idea, so you can monitor if she is actually gaining or maintaining weight, or when/if she starts declining.

And yes, research some other threads and see what others have to advise.
Best of luck

 

[coach723]

I agree with @rebrascora that the long term outlook for your hen is poor. And the prolapse makes it more difficult. How much you want to do for this hen is entirely up to you and the amount of time you want to spend on her. The prolapse may or may not be fixable, and may recur, there is really no way to know for sure, you can only try. The salpingitis is likely not treatable, but if you have a vet and want to try you can. Once they pass something that large it indicates the infection is pretty advanced, and likely will not respond to antibiotics. I've lost several birds to this, none responded to treatment. I've had a couple live for quite a while (about 18 months for the longest) but many succumb much sooner. They hide the illness very well until it's pretty advanced. I leave mine with the flock (not with a prolapse) until they are obviously unwell and no longer doing normal chicken things, and then I don't allow them to suffer. The prolapse complicates things as that has to be the priority first if you intend to treat her. It would be perfectly acceptable and understandable to euthanize for either of these conditions. It just depends on your personal feelings about it, and how much effort and time you want to spend on her, knowing that the salpingitis will eventually be fatal.
Here are a couple of links with info that may help.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic/

 

[azygous]

I am in total agreement with the others. The "cooked meat" appearance of a lash egg is due to that being the consistency that chicken pus has. This hen is riddled with infection. I wouldn't hesitate to end it compassionately for her since a hen with all the issues this hen has is in a great deal of discomfort.

 

[mamaamy]

Thank you all for your responses and your compassion. We love our chickens so, especially my 10 year old son. This is not easy, but having more information and support helps so much!

 

[WVduckchick]

And also
So sorry your joining us was under such circumstances.