What's this?

[dpHenHouse]

Hi all, noticed a chicken with bad poopy butt and was cleaning her up when I noticed long (2-3 inch) "tubes" that were obviously not poop. After rinsing as much of the poop off her rump, i gently grasped one of the two "tubes" and ever so gently pulled to see if it was caught in her feathers and would come off. It slowly started to give way and came off with ease (no resistance). I did the same with the second one that was just hanging there, but this one was obviously coming from her vent. I again grasped it to see if it would slide out like the other and it did. Then I saw a third one ... this time only about an inch was protruding from her vent. When I tried to see if it would give way and slide out like the others, it did not and my hen pinched her vent and it was pulled slightly back inside her. If you'll notice in the pic, they're paper thin and look "rolled" (like a cigarette might be). Another potential clue is she's plucked a lot of her feathers off her belly and the skin on her rump is more visible so plucking feathers there too, maybe. Any insight would be greatly appreciated !!

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like egg membrane. She may have had an egg break inside. You may want to consider giving her some antibiotics such as amoxicillin or enrofloxacin tablets. You can buy those online for pigeons.

 

[Eggcessive]

Enrofloxacin dosage is 2 tablets for most average size hens twice a day for 5 days. Crush it in a small amount of food, such as cooked egg or moistened chicken feed, cream cheese, or peanut butter. Jedds.com and this store sell them:
https://birdpalproducts.com/products/enrofloxacin-10-liquid-for-birds?variant=45012787364066

Here is a link for amoxicillin, and dosage is 250 mg orally twice a day for 7-10 days.
https://fishvetsupply.com/collections/fish/products/fish-mox-250mg-30-count
Toss out eggs with either of those for 3 weeks.

 

[dpHenHouse]

Thank you for the quick response! It does look like egg membrane, does that mean there may be broken shells inside her?

I've ordered the Enrofloxacin, but will take 3-4 days to get here. Anything I can do in the mean time to keep her reasonably well and help pass the rest of what might be left of the egg?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You could give her a calcium citrate + D3 teblet, one a day for 3 to 5 days. You can get it at any store that sells vitamins and supplements. Give her a whole one right in her beak, she can swallow it no problem. I usually do this at dark when they've roosted, saves chasing in the heat of the day. Just pull down on the wattles to open her beak and pop it in.

 

[Eggcessive]

She should pass the rest of the egg and membrane on her own in her droppings. The others may make them disappear. Yes, good point @BigBlueHen53 give a human calcium tablet or Tums daily for up to a week to help her shells become hard again.

 

[dpHenHouse]

Amazing ... didn't realize pulling down on the waddles would allow "easy" access to administer oral medication. I'll try that tonight when I do my evening "beak & butt count".

As for passing the rest of the egg, @Eggcessive you were spot on. This morning there was a clear gel like substance (albumin?) in the poop below where she was roosting. She also had a spring in her step this AM. Still has really loose poop, so I'll check and see if that third "membrane roll" is still in her vent when she gets her afternoon rinse down.

Now, off to the store to get calcium citrate + D3 tablets. Thank you both for such great insight and advice.