It's just one thing after another with my hen; please help

talkinboutchickens

Constantly Talkin Bout Chickens
Mar 8, 2024
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Hello, this is the story of Dottie (I'll try to make it a short version of the story.)

She had a prolapsed vent, then the vet fixed it. That problem is over and she's acting completely normal and eating fine now. After that, she got flystrike because her drippy poop that was pasted all over her vent from when she had a prolapse and couldn't poop properly attracted the flies....That issue is over as well.
When she had her suture removed from her vent, the vet said that she might not be laying because she system is "off" after what all happened to here. But it has been about 2 weeks and she still hasn't laid. She is acting normal otherwise, not like she is eggbound or anything. The only issue is that her butt is actually dripping. Dripping an orange-ish redd-ish, yellow-ish liquid.
That liquid comes out especially when she poops...
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(Plz excuse the build-up of poop, she pooped that much in the night and we haven't got to changing her bedding yet.)
I bet it's blood, or something else such as the innards of an egg if it cracked in her. The weird thing is that sometimes it can be red, other times it's orange-y. Again, she is pooping normally (a lot actually! She has been eating a lot ever since her recovery from her prolapse.) We don't want to go into the vet again as we don't want to spend any more money, and I tried to ask a vet online but there was a fee involved...So I'm hoping that I'll find answers on here:fl:)
Ok, so my questions are:
1. What could the liquid coming from her vent be from?
2. What can I do to help her without having to go to the vet?

Thanks so much!


@Eggcessive @azygous
 
The normal behavior is in her favor. But the reddish fluid loss is concerning. Her behavior may not last if she has bleeding going on. Whatever your vet did to her may have been torn loose. By deciding to forego another vet visit, you are banking on this self correcting. There's a good chance it will.

I would push fluids to replace that which is being lost. It wouldn't hurt to put a little sugar in the water to keep her blood glucose up. One teaspoon sugar to one cup water. Add poultry vitamins to it if you have them.
 
The normal behavior is in her favor. But the reddish fluid loss is concerning. Her behavior may not last if she has bleeding going on. Whatever your vet did to her may have been torn loose. By deciding to forego another vet visit, you are banking on this self correcting. There's a good chance it will.

I would push fluids to replace that which is being lost. It wouldn't hurt to put a little sugar in the water to keep her blood glucose up. One teaspoon sugar to one cup water. Add poultry vitamins to it if you have them.
Thanks so much @azygous! I'll do everything that you said. I'll give you an update soon🙂
 
The normal behavior is in her favor. But the reddish fluid loss is concerning. Her behavior may not last if she has bleeding going on. Whatever your vet did to her may have been torn loose. By deciding to forego another vet visit, you are banking on this self correcting. There's a good chance it will.

I would push fluids to replace that which is being lost. It wouldn't hurt to put a little sugar in the water to keep her blood glucose up. One teaspoon sugar to one cup water. Add poultry vitamins to it if you have them.
Hello again, I gave her some sugar water.
But her prolapse has come out again and there's even more blood in her poop. It's so frustrating that I can't figure out what's happening😣☹️
 
That's not good. I don't know what your vet did, but the hen may have been sutured inside to keep her prolapse in. It likely tore loose completely, and is now bleeding. It could still stop on its own or continue to hemorrhage until she dies.

Meanwhile, the prolapse is a problem as it can eventually become infected if it goes on too long. It seems you have a choice. See the vet again or resign yourself to losing this hen.

Things to consider when deciding what to do - prolapses, once they start in a hen, can be expected to be a problem. The alternative is a hormone implant every six months to stop ovulation which aggravates prolapse.

I would probably choose to euthanize as an alternative to further vet visits and as a humane choice for the hen to avoid a future of uncertainty and possible chronic suffering.
 
That's not good. I don't know what your vet did, but the hen may have been sutured inside to keep her prolapse in. It likely tore loose completely, and is now bleeding. It could still stop on its own or continue to hemorrhage until she dies.
This is what is weird: the vet already took our her sutures. So idk what is happening.
Her prolapse went in by itself but whenever she poops it comes back out again :hit
Things to consider when deciding what to do - prolapses, once they start in a hen, can be expected to be a problem. The alternative is a hormone implant every six months to stop ovulation which aggravates prolapse.
Is that going to be expensive?:(
I would probably choose to euthanize as an alternative to further vet visits and as a humane choice for the hen to avoid a future of uncertainty and possible chronic suffering.
I'll have to discuss with my family to see what they want to do

Sorry to hear about poor Dottie. She is lucky to have you.
I have to say, sadly, that I think it is time to say goodbye to her.
So sorry 😔
Sad 90 Day Fiance GIF by TLC Europe
 
oooh, I"m sorry to hear this. That does not sound good. Was the vet an avian vet? If I had a hen that was prone to prolapse, I'd put in an implant. Many won't though, particularly if hens are for laying or they disagree with it being used off label. Sounds like laying is not good for her system at all.
 

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