White messy bum after a predator attack

[mt65481]

Hi all. I just joined, though I've been following from afar for 5 years now.

Yesterday, the dreaded happened: something got into our coop and took one of my girls away. The other three, obviously freaked out, managed to fight whatever it was off. After inspecting them all to make sure they were okay, I noticed my golden laced wyandotte had poo/white gunk weighing down all her back feathers. Thinking whatever it was scared the $#!+ out of her, I rinsed her the best I could and got a better look. It looked like her vent was swollen and contracting. Once she was somewhat clean, I sent her bed and hoped for the best, When I went out the check her this a.m., her backside is covered with white gunk--it doesn't resemble poo anymore. I've read the threads about vent gleet. Is it just a coincidence she started showing these symptoms after fighting off a predator or is it an injury or something worse do you think?

As far as her behavior, she did isolate herself last night and doesn't seem to be eating too enthusiastically this morning. She was closing her eyes a lot yesterday, likely recouping after the 'break-in'.

Thanks for your help/insight. I really wish there was a vet around these parts who saw chickens!

 

[lovelyduckling]

I hope she will be ok! Dim going to search the web for a little of info to help you. Good luck! Brb.

 

[lovelyduckling]

Ok, searchhttp://white poo, very sick hen this should give you some info that might help. Also, put some vitamins or Apple cider vinegar in her water. That should help her feel better. Good luck!

 

[lovelyduckling]

Sorry, I'm new so that's wrong. Just search on here "white poop, very sick hen."

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all. I just joined, though I've been following from afar for 5 years now.

Yesterday, the dreaded happened: something got into our coop and took one of my girls away. The other three, obviously freaked out, managed to fight whatever it was off. After inspecting them all to make sure they were okay, I noticed my golden laced wyandotte had poo/white gunk weighing down all her back feathers. Thinking whatever it was scared the $#!+ out of her, I rinsed her the best I could and got a better look. It looked like her vent was swollen and contracting. Once she was somewhat clean, I sent her bed and hoped for the best, When I went out the check her this a.m., her backside is covered with white gunk--it doesn't resemble poo anymore. I've read the threads about vent gleet. Is it just a coincidence she started showing these symptoms after fighting off a predator or is it an injury or something worse do you think?

As far as her behavior, she did isolate herself last night and doesn't seem to be eating too enthusiastically this morning. She was closing her eyes a lot yesterday, likely recouping after the 'break-in'.

Thanks for your help/insight. I really wish there was a vet around these parts who saw chickens!

Welcome to BYC

Can you post some photos?
Does she have any injuries?

Separate her if you can an inspect her closely for any wounds, they can be hard to see sometimes. With a swollen vent, possible was pulled/snatched by the backside - some predators do that.

Sick/injured chickens can dehydrate quickly, so make sure she is drinking well.

Keep us posted.

 

[mt65481]

Thank you both for responding to the post. I rinsed Nutmeg off and it looks to me like she has a prolapsed vent, hence the messy tush. I didn't see any other injuries. My other half is getting home from a week-long trip this evening and with his help, I'll get some pictures taken and posted. In the meantime, she's in the chicken hospital in our basement. Also, in the meantime, I'm reading threads on what to do for prolapsed vents.

The predator, a hawk, came for two separate visits today. Twice it flew from under the porch and when I peeked under, there was the body of my Silver Laced Wyandotte, Rosemary, that disappeared yesterday.

My goodness, do I ever get attached to these hens. Fingers crossed Nutmeg will get better.

 

[lovelyduckling]

I hope for the best! Good luck!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you both for responding to the post. I rinsed Nutmeg off and it looks to me like she has a prolapsed vent, hence the messy tush. I didn't see any other injuries. My other half is getting home from a week-long trip this evening and with his help, I'll get some pictures taken and posted. In the meantime, she's in the chicken hospital in our basement. Also, in the meantime, I'm reading threads on what to do for prolapsed vents.

The predator, a hawk, came for two separate visits today. Twice it flew from under the porch and when I peeked under, there was the body of my Silver Laced Wyandotte, Rosemary, that disappeared yesterday.

My goodness, do I ever get attached to these hens. Fingers crossed Nutmeg will get better.

I'm sorry you lost Rosemary

.

For Nutmeg's prolapse, give her a good soaking in a warm epsom salts bath. Try to clean her up the best you can. Apply some hemorrhoid cream or honey to help reduce swelling. Gently push the prolapse to see if it will go back in. Depending on how much swelling there is it can take a while to reduce. You may need to repeat the soaking and applying cream/honey. If she is stressed, keep the prolapse moist with ointment and let her rest, but keep her hydrated.

Offer her some extra Calcium (crushed Tums or liquid Calcium works well) this will help with contractions. Make sure she is staying hydrated. Plain water is fine, but if you have poultry vitamins you can add those to the water if you like. Offer her some protein in addition to her normal feed (egg, tuna).

Here's a more detailed version on prolapse:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic.html

 

[mt65481]

Hey all,

We've been soaking Nutmeg and washing her bum in the mornings and at night. She's been staying in the basement. We've also tried nudging the prolapse back into her vent--and it stayed each time for a little while. However, it always eventually comes back out. And now we're very worried that a portion of her insides have dried out.



As you can see, we have the area around the prolapse more or less clear. However, that messy spot on her exposed colon is not feces; it is tissue, a kind of collar that extends 3/4 the way around her intestine (right word?). The portion to the right, in the image, is still flexible, but dark and caked in feces. The portion to the left, in the image, is heavily caked in dry, inflexible matter. I can, and have, been massaging both parts with prep H and now oil as well to try to keep the area moist while treating the inflammation. But the portion to the left feels dried out to me and it causes her pain to manipulate it at all.

We're not sure, first of all, the function of this collar, or what it is called. We caused a small tear in it between the crusty third and the flexible greater portion while cleaning it--just a drop of very thin blood.

Definitely don't want her to suffer, especially if she has necrotizing flesh. Any input? The tear occurred while we were trying to massage the area to clean it while recovering any flexibility--not sure we want to spend the time to do that if it is going to be causing her pain.

We're very sad about this. Happy to continue to treat her, but unwilling to torture her if there is no hope of her recovery. What do you all think?

 

[lovelyduckling]

I don't know if I can help but hopefully others will know. I'm so sorry that this happened. I hope for the best. She may never lay again if she survives this. Sorry, I really do hope she does survive without pain. You've done more than what some people will. They would just say she's a goner and cook her up and have a feast for dinner. Well thank you and good luck!