What The Heck Is That???? UPDATE!!

[Damummis]

I felt the hens keel bone. It is bent up into the body in an odd way. I wouldn't be surprized if she has the same thing going on that your roo has. I am not a vet, I will do minor procedures myself but I am not up to surgery yet. I might work up to it though.
I will more than likely have to cull her one day. Bummer, huh.

Anyway, I want to thank everyone for their opinons and experience.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Yes, it's not for everyone. I have many years experience helping a close family friend who is a vet, growing up with livestock, and so on and so forth.
If he pulls through and makes it I will place him in a pet home as a special boy...

 

[Damummis]

Well it happened. The girls were out taking dust bathes when the nail of on of the hens scratched the bubble on our little hen. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't witness it. Out came her guts. Intestine, gizzard....... you get the picture. I have to tell you it was quite shocking. Instinct took over along with empathy. I walked over, picked up my little hen and gently put her out of her misery. Then I almost threw up. And yes I cried. It was a sad day.
Thanks for everyone's help and advice on this.

 

[chickenlady]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Best wishes to you and your family.

 

[briana1975]

I just found this and I am so sorry that, that happened.

You did the right thing, at least she wasn't made to suffer.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Yes, with a small opening in the abdominal wall, a bit of intestine can poke through and get pinched off. That's what a strangulated hernia is. More often, the hernia can be "reduced," meaning the bit of intestine can be pushed back into the abdomen, or allowed to slip back in. I'm sure you were hoping to be able to sew such a defect back together. If the intestine stays stuck outside the abdomen, its circulation can get cut off, and it then will become gangrenous. But in the cases with these chickens, it does sound like the defect was much bigger than a "small" hernia.

 

[tulie13]

Wow - so sorry to hear about this.

I can't imagine how shocking that would be to witness...

This is good information for anyone else who has this sort of condition show up in a bird. It's an "accident waiting to happen". My condolences on the loss of your sweet bird.

 

[threehorses]

I'm very sorry to hear about what you witnessed and had to go through.

It's almost unbelievable that an animal can still be alive after that and that we have to put them to sleep. It's scarring, and I'm so very sorry. I'm very glad you were right there, however, as that was a sad stroke of luck that you were able to give her fast mercy. Better luck would have been that she made it, but thankfully you were there with her.

Again my condolences.

 

[Damummis]

Quote:
I have to say it was quite amazing. I don't think the hen knew what happened. She didn't act any different when it happened. She just continued her dirt bath with the rest of the girls. I felt SO bad culling her. I am glad I was there for it. It prevented a lot of trauma later on if I showed up any later knowing how chickens react to blood. The shock and awe of the whole thing will be burned in my head for a while.

 

[Damummis]

Quote:
Yes, with a small opening in the abdominal wall, a bit of intestine can poke through and get pinched off. That's what a strangulated hernia is. More often, the hernia can be "reduced," meaning the bit of intestine can be pushed back into the abdomen, or allowed to slip back in. I'm sure you were hoping to be able to sew such a defect back together. If the intestine stays stuck outside the abdomen, its circulation can get cut off, and it then will become gangrenous. But in the cases with these chickens, it does sound like the defect was much bigger than a "small" hernia.

It grew in size too I might add. About the size of a lime, maybe. I was dragging my feet with the culling of her. She was so happy out in the sunshine everyday.