Stevie Adams Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 (edited) My chicken has been really down for the last couple of days now! She laid an egg on Saturday but since Sunday she's been sitting down in the coop or in a corner of the garden a lot. I initially though she may be eggbound (She's only laid 3 eggs so far). She had a really messy bottom and seems to have been trying to lay an egg but with no luck. We gave her a bath today to clean her up and hopefully help her lay an egg if there was one but nothing seems to have happened, she's still the same. Her tail is pointing down rather than up. I've had a closer look at her vent and there seems to be something hanging out. I gave it a gentle pull but it seems as though it is firmly stuck, I didn't want to pull any harder. Has anyone seen anything like this at all? It's really worrying me, we've only had her a couple of weeks so I really don't know what to do. Edited July 5, 2011 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Hi stevie, sorry can't open your photos and don't know how to do a link, but check out my post on the chicken clinic, urgent help prolapse as it sounds similar! Let us know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 It looks as if she's tried to lay a softie and the membrane has got a bit stuck inside her... just pull it gently until it comes out, then clean her up. To create clickable links, just highlight the link text then click on the URL button above the reply box. That will give you url tags around your link and make it clickable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Adams Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 Much obliged - I'm thinking I might have put her through enough stress today, is it likely to hurt if I leave her until tomorrow or should I do it now? Is it best to give her a soak or could I just pull as it is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Adams Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 Okay, thanks so much for your help guys! I've had a feel round as best I can but I think it all came out in one. I'm guessing this was a soft shelled one and the photo below is in fact the shell. When I pulled, she was really good and was trying her best to push but I'm concerned that as she pushed quite a lot of pink insides came out the vent, is this normal or is it possible she's prolapsed? I've put her back to bed now, I think she's been prodded about enough for one night but hopefully the worst is over. Fingers crossed she'll be okay tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I hope your girl gets over her trauma very soon. As quite a novice I have been following your troubles with this with great interest. I was looking in all my chicken books but couldn't find anything that looked like your photos. It looked like a piece of straw or a feather protruding from her vent. It certainly turned out to be very educational, although I am sure you would rather have not had the experience. I am pleased for you that it seems to have worked out. Regarding your other post about oyster shell, I give mine mixed grit with oyster shell which I buy from a pet/animal feed supplier locally to me. They also sell oyster shell on its own, but I believe it is better to give the mixed stuff. They sell all sorts of horsey stuff, as well as pig, sheep, pigeon food and all sorts of other animal feed and supplies. That's where I buy my bedding and most other things. You will probably find you have one of these sort of places nearby. Also, a lot of garden centres these days seem to sell chicken supplies as well; there are probably one or two poultry centres in your locality as well if you look on the web (others on the forum who live in your area will probably post with addresses of these). I just mix the mixed grit with oyster shell in with their pellets 50/50 as this is what my two were used to from where I brought them. Omlet also sell bags of mixed grit and oyster shell, although the postage might be quite high as it will be quite a heavy item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 The story continues here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...