PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP??

C

chickenlover

New member
Joined
Aug 1, 2012
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
I am at my wits end don't know what to do, fear it might be the worse.
One of my chickens has prolapsed twice before, in fact I have had three of them do it and with TLC managed to cure them but this one I think I am failing.
She was hiding in her shed out of the way of the others and when I checked on her, she had a mild prolapse, so I isolated her and gave her a soak in epsom salts, put vaseline around the vent and tried to push it back and then she started fighting me and then she went limp and I thought she was dying. After about 10 minutes she was was up and fine. I wondered whether she had an egg stuck inside her so I with a syringe inserted some vegetable oil into her vent. Not long after I went and checked on her and she had laid an egg which looked really "old". It was cooked and was rotten inside. So I proceeded to try and push the prolapse back and she seemed she was in pain and wondered if she had another egg inside her. So I dabbed honey all the way round her vent and prolapse. Next day a good soak and honey she still would not let me push it back so for 3 days soaking and honey on it in the hope it would shrink. When I tried to push it back again she started bleeding heavy so I just carried on soaking and honey treatment. It now looks and is as big as a plum, I don't think we will ever push it back but going to perservere over the weekend with soaking and honey. She is very alert and is eating and drinking well and apart from this "thing" out of her vent seems her old self. Can anyone please let me know what to do next and with the symptons I have described is there anything else wrong with her? Thanks.
 
Hi,
It does sound as though you have become really skilled at sorting this where possible. I had it happen to one last year and although I initially had success she reprolapsed and did have to be put to sleep. However the vet did say that sometimes a stitch can be inserted as a very temporary measure( a couple of days) to hold it back.There has been a post on here in the last 2 or 3 days about this problem where hormones were given to prevent laying whilst repair took place.
Mine too was fine in herself, a young 2 year old fit hen and it's tragic when this happens but sadly it's as you've already discovered, not uncommon.
Keep her from the others as they will be attracted to it and may well peck her.
 
Thanks for your post, she too is only two years old and is top of the pecking order when she is in with the others and also a real character. I now that I dare not put her back in with the others, in fact after her soaking yesterday morning I wrapped her in a towel and took her up to see her "mates" as where she is isolated she cannot see them. I am so disappointed that I seem to have failed with this one after success of the others but am going to keep trying over the weekend and see what happens then I will have to decide what to do. I just hope she is not in any pain which she doesn't appear to be but she will not let me push it back and now as I said looks and is as big as a plum could it by dying by not being in the vent I don't know. I have researched till I am blue in the face as to what to do as I don't want to have her put to sleep but fear this might have to be the case. I'll post with any news.
 
Hi chickenlover, so sorry to see you on here with this problem again with one of your girls. Is this Margaret, Pecker or one of the others this time, I wonder?
If it's Margaret or Pecker, the problem has been going on for a very long time, hasn't it, and despite your devoted care, the poor girl hasn't been able to make a lasting recovery. What you describe does sound pretty serious, and if you can't get it back in, it will be in more danger of becoming infected. If you can get her to the vet to enquire whether any other treatment is realistically possible and within your budget, then this should happen ASAP, today if you can get an emergency appointment (these things always happen at weekends, don't they?) and then be guided by his advice about what is in her best interests to do for her. At least you'll feel somebody experienced has had a look at her and given you an informed diagnosis. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
It's Paxo Marigold. I have been soaking her as I said and then gently tried to push it back in but as I am pushing she is forcing it back out. She has developed a yellowy crust over it of which with soaking am able to peel some of it off, but I don't know what else to do. She is very perky, eating and drinking as if there is nothing wrong but I am frightened it might become infected. I am going to try again now but fear I am losing a battle this time. Why do you think she is pushing against me? Do you think she has another egg inside her? Initially I massaged her stomach and injected veg oil into her vent and within minutes she passed the egg, but don't want to damage her. Cheers.
 
Very sorry to hear this, Chickenlover. I don't really think anyone on here can help you , however much we'd like to be able to, certainly not me as this is beyond my experience. Will you be able to get her to see a vet tomorrow? Glad to hear she's eating and drinking and fairly perky, please keep in touch and let us know how she gets on.
 
Hi,
I think the pushing against you as you are trying to put it back in is some sort of reflex action as the whole area will be irritated and not necessarily because she has an egg there. My hen did the same and as I posted earlier she had to be put to sleep. Sorry but this may well be inevitable here too.
 
Thanks Marigold and Newtoducks for your posts.

I have just given her a 20 minute soak and managed [wings flapping!!] to get some of the yellow crust off and tried a few times to push it back in but again she resisted me. I'm wondering if that area has died a bit??? She has a bit of reflex movements that are contracting in and out when I push it in but just comes straight back out again. I honestly don't the vet can do anything reading other posts on here and the lack of knowledge vets have of chickens that's why I have put so much TLC into my girls and this I think is a failure. I don't think she is suffering as I posted perky etc if I did I would not hesitate to have her put to sleep, so over the next couple of days if no luck I will seriously have to think of having her PTS. The thing is as well we are going away on Saturday for a few days and what will I do with her then? I have my daughter who lives across the road to look after them when we are not here but she certainly would not do what I do.
 
My daughter is going through the same agonising decision with her old horse at the moment, and also has a dog 17+ years who won't be with us much longer, and I know how hard these things are. Maybe having to go away on Saturday will help a difficult decision.
 
I know these decisions are hard but I am getting married on Friday and the trip away is my honeymoon so obviously I can't cancel. The thing is it is coming cold now and the soakings will not make her feel good and don't want her dying of hyperthemia or anything I will let know over the next couple of days what happens. It is such a shame she is a lovely bird.
 
If you come to know that nothing you can do for her will make any difference, perhaps you should try to make your decision as early as possible in the week, so that it doesn't cloud your happy day on Friday. Based on my own experience with my sick animals, you'll know when she needs you to release her, and if you can take her to the vet to be put to sleep, you will be sure that it will be peaceful and painless. I have held one of my girls for the vet whilst he injected her, and watched her literally just drop off to sleep in front of me in a few seconds, no pain or panic. If you can take her in a high-sided box, she will not get stressed in the car, and you will be able to enjoy your honeymoon without worrying about how she's getting on left at home. I've found the most difficult part actually is making that phone call to fix the appointment - after that, when I knew it was the kind thing to do for her, it was still difficult but with a sense of relief really.
 
Hi,
I do feel for you. You should be full of excitement and anticipation for the coming wedding and honeymoon next week instead of worrying about this. Somehow try and take a step back, you've done all you can, see the vet tomorrow and take their advice. We've all been where you are now and it's awful but it's the last act of a responsible/caring owner.Easily said,I know.
 
Thank you so much for your kind words, I will let you know what I decide to do. She seems perfect apart from this "thing" from her vent and is coping fine on her own - DECISION time soon. Will be in touch and thank you again for your support.
 
Managed to get Paxo's prolapse down to a size of a small grape but everytime I tried to push it in she sort of nearly fainted so I gave up, tried again yesterday with some vaseline but the same happened. Over the last couple of days I think she was missing the others and looked so miserable staring into a corner with her tail down. I filled a box with straw in last couple of nights because it was cold, unfortunately I have found her dead this morning. I am so sad but I knew she could not go back in with the others, obvious reasons and was "nearly there" with the prolapse but she would'nt let me push it back. Thanks everyone for your advice, no doubt I will be on here again for your advice should I need it.
 
I'm sorry to read this but I'm sure you knew it was unlikely to have a happy ending. I hope you had a lovely wedding and honeymoon and didn't worry too much.
 
Sorry to hear about Paxo, and like Newtoducks, I hope the wedding and honeymoon weren't overshadowed too much by the hens. How are Margaret and Pecker nowadays?
I don't think it was just a matter of getting the prolapse to stay back in, even if you'd been able to do so. It's very likely all sorts of things were also going on inside, out of reach of help.
Now you know that a severe prolapse is probably painful, and almost always terminal, despite all the care you are willing to give, would you still decide to go on to the bitter end, once the condition is clearly hopeless?
I hope that doesn't sound too unkind - i know its a hard place to be in.
 
Yes thanks for your posts we had a perfect day and a wonderful honeymoon thank you. Just checked the girls and Pecker's bum looks a bit messy again, think it might be a small dose of vent gleet, so the rubber gloves out, epsom salts, cider vinegar and yoghurt here I come!!! The joys!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top