Prolapse and problems

C

chickenlover

New member
Joined
Aug 1, 2012
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
One of my chickens has had a prolapse of which we treat successfully, thank goodness, but another one of my hens has had one and is proving difficult to treat.
We have been bathing her 3 times a day with epsom salts, slapping honey on her vent. We can push it back in but comes back out after a few minutes, then goes back on it's own. We have noticed she develops a white, crusty, scabby round the vent of which we soak and peel off. The hen we successfully treated developed vent gleet during the process of which we also cured with voghurt, so we thought this one possibly had a mild dose of it as well and therefore have also been putting yoghurt on it but it is doing no good, still this crusty build up around the vent.

Please can someone help, she has had the prolapse for over a week now.
Thanks
 
Is this Margaret, who you posted about before, Chickenlover? I'm sorry to hear she's no better, it must be worrying for you. You are doing all the right things to soothe her, but maybe you could now consider taking her to the vet to find out if there's anything else that could be done for her?
How are the others getting on? Is Pecker OK now?
 
Hi Marigold

Yes this is Margaret, not much success this time. She keeps on trying to contract it back in, sometimes it's in when I check on her, then next minute it's out. I've heard that vets don't know much about chickens and their advice would be to put her to sleep I guess, but in herself she is fine, alert, eating, drinking and is coping well on her own. I'm going to give her this week and then decide what to do, which is really going to upset me because she is a lovely hen, but feel so sorry for her on her own even though for obvious reasons she is better off than the others having a go at it.

Trying the honey method again and vaseline, she has a very red chest suppose due to being "soaked" twice a day, been putting vaseline on it do you recommend anything else to help?

Well Pecker, is a miracle!!! They have all settled down and is one of the gang. Pecking order has been sorted and she is big friends now with the ring leader - Paxo. I just wish we could work wonders on Margaret, will keep you updated with any news but it is not looking too good. Giving her her last shots, what else can I try for her prolapse?

Regards

Julie
 
Hi Julie, I found this on the Poultrykeeper site http://poultrykeeper.com/reproductive-system-problems/prolapsed-oviduct though I expect you've been finding out a lot about prolapse anyway. From what I've found, even if a hen has apparently recovered from a prolapse, she is likely to relapse if she tries to lay again, and the condition may in any case result in infection attacking the oviduct, leading to peritonitis. If the prolapse is hanging out, as hers is, she can never go back with the others, who would peck it. With an elderly hen like Margaret, as you have realised, the prognosis isn't good. A vet could give antibiotics to treat or help prevent infection, but the only way to cure the condition would be by an operation to stitch up the sagging muscles internally, the sort of thing that many women, including me, have been very grateful for, but I don't think it can be done on hens, and certainly not on the NHS! However, there is a list of poultry - friendly vets on the forum. See the Health section in case there is one in your area. But if you decide her time has come, any vet should be able to give her an injection so she quietly goes to sleep, if you can't face culling her yourself.
 
Hi Marigold

Been awake all night wondering what to do with her. Her general well being is good, as I said she is alert, eating well and drinking but I think it is unfair being on her own and we all know this is for her own good, towing with the idea of the vets and possibly see if they can stitch it for her but don't know if these ops are successful or not. I've read on another forum that it can be but more than likely not. Can't face having her put to sleep when she is so healthy otherwise but I know you have to be cruel to be kind, could not cull her I would never sleep then!!!!

Going to give it some serious thinking today and will let you know. Do you know of any success stories re these ops?

Regards Julie
 
I suppose part of the problem for a hen is only having one exit, as it were - I expect having to poo through the same area makes her more likely to keep on prolapsing and also more likely to get an infection at some stage.
This is a dilemma we all have to face with pets who are getting on a bit, isn't it, and a hybrid hen's physiology and shorter lifespan than many animals means it comes round sooner than with some creatures. As for the success rate of an operation, I don't know if you could find a specialist vet who would perform it, but it would be a short-term measure in view of her age, would involve a lot of stress for her, continued separation from the other hens whilst recovering, and no doubt a big bill at the end of it, whatever the outcome.
She's obviously a very special hen to you, and you are giving her devoted care and lots of love, which may make up for her separation from the less understanding girls in the flock. One option of course is just to go on caring for her and see what happens. To be honest I think it's likely she may deteriorate quite rapidly at some point, and then because you are so close to her you will notice she is in pain or the prolapse has got even worse, maybe bleeding, and then a decision will have to be made. But she may just slip away quietly one night, and then you will know you did everything you could for her whilst she was with you.
In my experience a caring owner does know in their heart when a pet is ready to go, and it's time then to be unselfish and help them on their way. This is quite different from people who just have an animal put down because their needs have become inconvenient or distressing, or who can't deal with a nonproductive hen for economic reasons. And if I had a bird who was infectious and this putting the others at risk I wouldn't hesitate, and I know people on here have had to face the loss of many of their cherished flock of apparently healthy hens when faced with the threat of Mareks disease, for instance. But Margarets situation is quite different and I think you can just go on being sensitive to her needs, and yours, so that whatever and whenever the outcome, you will feel you did all you could and she had a really good life with you.
 
Hi Marigold

Latest news!!
Things looking better with Margaret!! Managed to push the prolapse back and stayed there till she laid an egg, but we gave her another soak, put honey on it and hey checked her this morning and still in!! Might be a different story if she lays another egg, but she is only on corn and bits from the kitchen, in fact she is getting very spoilt a lot more than the others at the moment. She is lonely though and can hear but not see the others, but it is for her own good at the moment to stay where she is. Going to have a bit dilemna on my hands if she recovers and goes back in with the others.
Guess what? We have four laying boxes in their shed and they have a favourite one where they lay and where Rooster beds down for the night, Paxo and Pecker normally stay on their perch to go to sleep. When I went up to check on them last night before bed guess who was laid down for the night in the box - yes Pecker with Rooster on the side. Now is Pecker a miracle story or what? Looks like she has overcome the bullying that went on in there. Well done Pecker. Will keep you informed with regards to Margaret, but I fear it will happen again if she lays. When she was well she didn't lay everyday anyway, because I know who lays which eggs with the colours etc. They are not old, we got them at point of lay in March 2011.
 
Thats brilliant news all round, well done. I didn't realise Margaret was only 18 months old, I assumed she was just having elderly hybrid problems. Really glad Pecker is OK now as well. just shows what devoted care can do!
 
Bad news!! Found Pecker yesterday afternoon with a slight prolapse, not half as bad as before but was bleeding a little I think the others might have been having a go, but now isolated. She looks like she has a temperature, and was crying a little this morning, do you think she is egg bound? I know that she has not laid since her ordeal. She feels very clammy. Please help !! I am going to give her a warm bath/soak and see if this helps. I hope we don't have the same problems with bullying when she goes back in with the others. Seriously thinking of buying another coop for her and Margaret as Paxo is very aggressive, what do you think, seeing as they have both had prolapses?
 
Sorry to hear of Paxo's relapse. Is there room for them both in the coop/run you are using for Margaret?
What makes you think she has a temperature? If it is high, It's possible she may be developing egg peritonitis, when a half-formed egg travels down in the wrong direction and ends up in the chickens gut and then, of course, starts to breed bacteria. This sometimes happens, and as she is suffering repeated prolapses this is possibly more likely than in a hen with a normally functioning oviduct. Of course these things always happen at the weekend, dont they? If she is still poorly tomorrow and it doesn't look like a simple prolapse again, methinks a visit to the vet?
 
I managed to "house them altogether"this morning with Margaret standing up to Paxo, bit of a fight but Margaret stood her ground. Isolated Pecker today and had to go out this afternoon so isolated Margaret from Paxo and Rooster in case of fighting only to find Margaret re lapsed again. So out she has come with Pecker, but Pecker seems very lethargic and her abdomen is really swollen even though I have had three eggs today, 2 of which I know are Paxo's and Roosters but not sure if the other one is Pecker's or Margarets. Pecker seems when I touch her abdomen rather jumpy and is crying out as if in pain. What a shame after such a success story, but I do not want her suffering, I will see how she is over the next day or so but am really upset as she is my favourite bird, so placid and loving. What the hell is going on????????? Why is she crying and what do you think it is what's happening to her? Do you think she is in pain? Is the swelling normal after prolapse or do you think something else is happening? I am going to move her to the shed later and isolate her in there where she will be warm and in peace, hopefully she will get a good sleep and see in the morning. If she is in pain or you think you might know what is wrong and there is no cure I am afraid I will have to do the kindest thing I do not want my pets to suffer, they cannot help themselves and at this moment in time shedding tears even thinking about it. Lost so many of many pets over the last two years due to age, two German Shepherds, one 15 the other 16, my beloved "adopted" cat of cancer and my budgie a couple of weeks ago age 15. Cannot take much more of this pain of losing any more, do you think you know what is happening? x
 
Ps the reason why I think Pecker has a temperature is she feels wet on her feathers as if she has had a soak!!
 
Sounds like Pecker either has a chronic abdominal infection, has egg peritonitis (eggs go into the abdomen) or both these. She must be in acute pain and needs treatment immediately Chickenlover. An emergency trip to the vets for antibiotics or pts I think.
 
Yes I agree with chris, internal infection can lead to a prolapse through irritation and damage to the reproductive system. A course of antibiotics and a anti inflammatory can help.
 
I agree, if you possibly can, get her an emergency appointment with the vet tomorrow, she sounds as if in considerable pain and you shouldnt wait any longer before getting advice. Chickens are very stoic and try not to appear ill, in case they get bullied, so if she is crying out, things-are seriously wrong. What pity it was Sunday today. I'm really sorry this comes at such a bad time for you, but I'm sure you will put her needs first, whatever these turn out o be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top