Part 0800.0005

[cluckynikki]

I came home today to make an upsetting discovery. There was an egg in the eglu but also a fair bit of blood and drips of blood over the roosting bars, and Coffee had bloody knicker feathers. I have cleaned her up and had a look as best as I can. I don't think it is a prolapse as nothing is hanging out of her vent. I am wondering if it is a tear?

 

Her vent is a bit bigger at the top and overhangs but and seems to be opening and closing like a mouth when I apply gentle pressure near it.

 

The bleeding did clear up and I kept her separate from Tilly, but within minutes of putting them in together Tilly started pecking her there and made it bleed again. I have now separated them for the night and will keep them separate tomorrow too in the hope that Coffee can heal. But if she tried to lay an egg tomorrow the same will happen.

 

I have been very lucky and this is my first real medical trauma. They are both about 20 months old, and had both stopped laying 'good' eggs. Coffee had been laying softies for about 3 months, and Tilly stopped 3 weeks ago too. I took them off layers pellets about 10 days ago in a bid to give their bodies a rest. Could not believe it that after months of no eggs I have had four in the last four days. And I think Coffee is the one who has been laying them all as she was obviously the layer today.

 

Any advice please or is it 'the end of the road'?

 

Thanks, Nikki

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like an internal tear. I'd keep her separate until you are absolutely sure that the bleeding ha s stopped, and apply some purple spray to prevent further interest in the area.

[Plum]

They are rotten to eachother and will peck any red area so the sight of the vent stretching over an egg is very tempting.

 

Like Egluntyne says the purple spray disguises any redness but keep an eye out for infection. I would just check she doesn't go sleepy or stop eating and look out for abnormal discharge. The vet will check her if you are worried.

 

The vent heals by itself. The vet can put a stitch in but it can tear when she lays again. You can try and prevent her laying for a bit by keeping environment gloomy and feeding her wheat rather than pellets but chances are she will already have ovulated. She should recover quickly.

[Pipichick]

Hi Nikki,

 

We had a similar situation in our first week of chicken owning. Woke up to a v subdued Ginger with a bloody vent but no egg We rushed her to the vet asap who examined her and said she had badly torn, gave her a pain killing injection and some oral antibiotic (she laid an egg soon after the trip to the vets) We separated our hens too as Doodle was forever pecking away at Ginger. After lots of purple spray and fun administering the oral antibiotics Ginger perked up and quickly took charge again She went on 'egg strike' for a good 2 weeks but I don't blame her while she healed herself Hope Coffee is on the mend now.