[lynnsb]

I have 3 young light Sussex hens who have been laying from 19 weeks. The last few days I have only had 2 eggs and this morning there was a soft shell less egg in the coop. I examined all their bottoms for clues and found that one of them had a red swollen protrusion from her back end
 I am assuming she is responsible. Is this a prolapse and has laying the soft egg caused the prolapse or has the prolapse caused the soft egg. What came first, the prolapse or the egg!!! Any ideas of cause and what can I do with her.
Thanks

[New shoot]

It could be a prolapse, but it is not easy to say without a picture.   I would suggest a vet visit as something is not right.  It might be an abscess and that could be drained and anti-bios administered.  Be warned that for a prolapse, the news is often not good.

[lynnsb]

I had been worrying all day whilst at work and went out and bought some preeration H as I had read somewhere else. When I returned and checked her it was all back to normal.BUT on my return from work today another soft egg and when I checked her, red protrusion again so put her in a warm bath, but it went straight back to normal. What is going on. Do prolapses come and go. She is still very perky and eating eating and drinking ok. Am at a loss. Is it just the soft eggs that are giving her a sore bottom or is she laying the soft eggs because of her bottom?

[New shoot]

The Preparation H trick works as a one off to get a prolapse back in, but that us far as it goes with that.  Prolapses can pop in and out, but if they keep happening, it is a serious health issue for the hen.  It will also encourage pecking by the other hens

 If you take pictures of the protrusion next time you see it, it would help a vet to diagnose the problem.  If it is a prolapse that is repeatedly happening on egg laying, the vet will almost certainly recommend you put the hen to sleep. 

[John]

Sounds like a prolapse to me too. We had a hen with one and tried everything we could find to no avail.

Soft shells - make sure they've got plenty of crushed oyster shell or similar available and Netex Vit Boost is very good.
Also look for a product called Shell Aid - ebay or suchlike.