Urgent Help Needed

[Atticus]

This evening I checked one of my chicken's vent, who I got from Omlet and she has a 'prolapsed vent' and a small amount of blood is there aswell. She has a bit of a dirty bottom at the moment but has been fine otherwise so far, and is a good layer. She doesn't lay particuarly large eggs and is quite a young chicken (we got her this year) but possibly slightly overweight.

We arent sure how to fix this but we read about bandaging her bottom each night or giving them corn to stop laying for a short while. Any suggestions?

[Scarlet]

I'm not the best to answer this as I haven't done it myself - but can you clean the area and try to gently push it back in? Cover it over with a bit of vaseline to make it easier.

Have a look at this link
Fowl Facts Information Center - Prolapse / Protrusion from vent

I would also take her out of her flock - the others will peck at the blood

[RichmondHens]

First of all isolate her in a separate coop (a cage in a shed will do temporarily). If her vent is bleeding it will attract the other hens and they will soon peck her to bits. Then give her a good wash and get off all the muck. Has she had a dirty bottom for long or has it coincided with the prolapse? The dirty bum may be due to another problem. The prolapse may go back in by itself if not too large or you could try pushing it gently in with a clean finger. If the hen is fat, as you say she might be, then feeding corn will not help, it will just make her fatter. If you can keep her on a strict pellet only diet and she loses a little weight it might help, but unfortunately once a hen starts to prolapse they are likely to do it again.

[petal]

I'm afraid in my experience even if you can get the prolapse back in, it will reoccur. I find it very common in hybrids in particular.Is she a hybrid? I would get her to the vet asap.

[Scarlet]

I'm afraid in my experience even if you can get the prolapse back in, it will reoccur. I find it very common in hybrids in particular.Is she a hybrid? I would get her to the vet asap.

I didn't realised that - I have never seen a prolapse in one of my chickens but I have only ever had traditional pure breeds, I wasn't aware that it was mostly found in hybrids. Is it because they lay more often?

[petal]

apparently its because they have been selectively bred to be egg laying machines.
I have heard some people use haemorroid cream to reduce swelling on prolapse. you might have a chance with a pure breed as they lay less and it would give the area a rest but with a hybrid...

[Atticus]

prolapsed vent

Many thanks for your helpful replies, I'm glad to say the prolapse went back spontaneously, even before we had got the bits and pieces together to wash and cream her, it was back in and no sign since of any bleeding. Her behaviour seems normal and there is no sign of bottom pecking. Hope it stays in. She is probably a bit overweight so will keep her on the pellets and water only and keep a close eye on all their bottoms

[petal]

Pleased to hear a successful outcome, i expect your hens will not be impressed by having to go on a diet!!