I threw a fistful of scratch as far as I could, and watched as my five girls toddered into a storm of seed. A small patch of red caught my eye. It was on Dottie’s bum.
After cautiously walking over, I picked her up, turning her upside-down all in one chicken mama move. My stomach dropped. I had read about this, but never saw one in person.
Dottie had a prolapsed vent.
I placed Dottie (a Golden Laced Wyandotte) in a carrier and loaded her in my car. This chicken emergency marked the first time I left my house since COVID-19 shut down my state and the nation. My husband and I grabbed face masks and began the 20-minute drive to the avian expert.
We were breaking lockdown.
The pandemic protocol required us to call the clinic once we arrived, and to wait for someone to take Dottie. I checked in, as asked, then placed Dottie on the sidewalk in front of my car. Shortly after, a vet tech wearing a mask and gloves grabbed the carrier. Fifteen minutes went by, then I received a call from the vet. He said she did have a prolapse, but that it already was reversing. And that she has an egg ready to drop.
So she was going to be OK. And we got to break out of our quarantine for an hour, so considered it all a win-win.
Chicken Scratch Fever 
Amazing. Glad you weren’t hauled over by the gendarmes.
All the best and stay healthy,
Bob Fraser Now retired and living near Albuquerque
On Fri, May 22, 2020, 5:11 PM Chicken Scratch Fever wrote:
> Urban Chickeneer posted: ” I threw a fistful of scratch as far as I could, > and watched as my five girls toddered into a storm of seed. A small patch > of red caught my eye. It was on Dottie’s bum. After cautiously walking > over, I picked her up, turning her upside-down all in one ” >
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I’m glad she is recovering! We often feel like a trip to the grocery store feels like a vacation, so I understand your point of view. Most of all, though, I’m glad Dottie will be okay and that you cared enough to take her to the vet.
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Thanks so much for your kind words. It’s great to hear from you. Today, our governor extended her stay-at-home order to mid-June. 😮By then, I’ll definitely be ready to fly the coop!!
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Some of our mobility has been lifted here, but we are homebodies at heart and aren’t going out much. We’re waiting for things to settle a bit.
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