What's wrong with this hen's vent please?

[Wyorp Rock]

If you have vet care, that is always best.

I would work on her some more when you can. Give her a good soaking and try to remove that hardened poop. It may take several attempts to get it all. Let her rest between (you too) so you don't stress her.

 

[WVduckchick]

I agree with WyorpRock. A vet is always best when available.

How did she handle the bath? Usually once they get settled in, they will normally stay. If you use a shallow plastic tub, you can sometimes place a towel around her, with just her head sticking out, to try to keep her settled in. Once that stuff softens up, you should be able to break it up and remove it. They are pretty tough cookies.

Good luck!

 

[MissChick@dee]

Can you apply some lubricant and clean that off more? Is that a hardened prolapse or a turd-ball? She needs MORE ...soaking. Let her soak awhile.

 

[LittleMoss]

I will give her a proper bath today! Is it a good idea to put some tea tree oil in? Lavender oil?? Also, I don't have baby shampoo, but I can get some - or is any mild shampoo fine?
I had wondered about lubricant - would rubbing Vaseline in help?
Thanks so much for all your suggestions.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I will give her a proper bath today! Is it a good idea to put some tea tree oil in? Lavender oil?? Also, I don't have baby shampoo, but I can get some - or is any mild shampoo fine?
I had wondered about lubricant - would rubbing Vaseline in help?
Thanks so much for all your suggestions.

You can just use little dish liquid or a mild shampoo. Not sure about the oils, I don't know much about them.

If the vent is still crusty after the bath, it won't hurt to apply a topical lubricant like vaseline that may help loosen it up.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Vaseline is thick I would not use it. It will cause the feathers to muck-up and make a bigger mess of it. Once as a kid I had hair to my waist and I thought Vaseline would condition my hair! OMGOSH!! My mom scrubbed and shampoo’d my hair I cried it was awful! She then took me to get a “pixie”
Hair cut. LOL childhood trauma! (Sorry couldn’t help myself) if you do use it...go sparingly and keep it just on the skin area.

 

[LittleMoss]

That must have been a tough experience! - okay, if I use vaseline I will use it very sparingly! Maybe a little coconut oil or vegetable oil.
I felt Ginger's abdomen this morning and it feels soft. We will bath her again today and try to get more of the crust off. We don't have vet care in place, and I'd rather treat her myself if I can, but I will take her to the vet if necessary. She still seems happy in herself. Here are a few photos from when we bathed her yesterday.She was still wet from bathing when we took the photos, so looks worse as her feathers are damped down.

 

[LittleMoss]

Here are a few more photos. The first one is a "profile". I hope you can see the dark bit that's sticking out of her rear end, against the background of my flowery apron! We are not sure what this is - we're not sure whether it's just poop or something else - it won't wash off and seems to be the end of something, or attached to the end of something. We bathed her well again today and I put a little warmed coconut oil on afterwards. She was much more relaxed - she stayed sitting on my lap after we were done! I have made an appointment at the vet's, but it's not till Friday. I'd be really grateful for any more thoughts on what is wrong, now that we have some better photos, thank you

 

[MissChick@dee]

Don’t get discouraged. I’m like you too in the fact I have to treat my birds too. I live 3 hrs (one direction) from ANYTHING lol. You’ve done a good job so far.
I’m thinking that might be a hardened prolapse that has dried just dunno really.
She did lay an egg right?
So if she did more likely it’s just tissue and not a prolapse. Keep it moist and clean. It just might heal up and fall off. Especially if she’s still laying. Chickens are amazing sometimes.
Each time you deal with something you learn. We all learn. It’s truly the only way we know what to do.
Hang in there...you’re doing great we’re all here for you.
Best wishes

 

[WVduckchick]

I suspect it’s hardened prolapse also, that she pulled back in.

I had it happen to a serama pullet. I kept her inside for many months, before she finally just wouldn’t eat anymore and couldn’t poop unless I kept that clump broken up. She tried, and i tried, but eventually I put her down.

I hope the vet can help.