I have a one year old hybrid with a prolapse. She hasn't been laying for several months, except the odd soft egg. Am treating her with haemorrhoid cream, and have reinserted, but it keeps popping out. Poor girl! Have separated her from the others (difficult for me) and am considering taking her to the vet to get her culled. What do you guys do for similar problems?
prolapse
- Thread starter Roisin
- Start date
chrismahon
Well-known member
First thing, apart from pushing the prolapse back in, is to isolate her so that it doesn't get pecked and then put her onto a wheat only diet so that she won't lay. When inserting the prolapse we use Vaseline and hold the finger in place for a minute to allow the natural muscle contractions to put it back into the right position. There was a post on here about two years ago called 'Elisa's prolapse'. She was a year old as well. I went very easy on the haemorrhoid cream because it is very strong stuff. One very light application a day only. The prolapse kept popping out for about three days but eventually stayed in. Her's had been pecked as well, so the scabbing made it more complicated.
Far too early to consider culling I think Roisin. Two years on and Elisa is fine and lays well -she never repeated the prolapse.
Far too early to consider culling I think Roisin. Two years on and Elisa is fine and lays well -she never repeated the prolapse.
I think you're right to consider culling her, Roisin. Given her poor laying history, and the prolapse, it's highly likely that she has some internal damage or problem which is going to get worse whatever you do, and it's unlikely she will ever lay satisfactorily. Yes you could spend a lot of money at the vet, if you could find a suitable and experienced one to operate on her, and it might work for a while, but I don't personally think it would be kind to put her through that, plus the isolation etc she would need whilst recovering from the shock. Home treatments are also invasive and probably not a long term cure. If she did come back into lay it would be highly likely to recur, she might be attacked by the others before you noticed what had happened, and in any case would have to put up with a painful and debilitating condition. I know many people go to great lengths to keep their pet hens alive come what may, but one always has to consider whether this is either kind or sensible as a long term treatment,
I give my hens a really good life, and when they succumb to a potentially terminal condition, they are culled, simple as that. Trouble is, they all seem to live to a great age as healthy pensioners ....
I give my hens a really good life, and when they succumb to a potentially terminal condition, they are culled, simple as that. Trouble is, they all seem to live to a great age as healthy pensioners ....
Thank you both for the advice. I reinserted the prolapse yesterday but it kept reverting. After work today, she seems perky enough but her rear end has gone sort of hard on the prolapse. not sure if scar tissue or not. I have bathed and put on hemorrhoid cream. There is no way I could reinsert it while it is like that. I don't have wheat, but am feeding herr couscous and a bit of corn instead of layers mash, She is separated from the others and in a dark room in an effort to make her come out of lay. Is nesting on a bed of straw, poor little thing. Im pretty sure the laying of soft eggs and her prolapse are connected. Also, creamy white substance (not offensive smelling) coming from her vent. I have vets appointment on Friday morn.
3441sussex
New member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2013
- Messages
- 61
- Reaction score
- 0
Marigold said:
Quite agree with Marigold. Is that the first appointment your vet's practice could give you? It seems a long time to wait.
chrismahon
Well-known member
I think there may be a broken egg in her Roisin. Friday morning is far too late in that case. By then you may have no option but to cull. Can you contact the local BHWT and see one of their vets?
Took her to the vet to be put down yesterday eve. We both agreed that their were signs of underlying problems, (laying soft eggs, underweight...) which means prolapse would be likely to reoccur when she started laying again. I am lucky I live near such a good vet in central London, Beaumont Animal Hospital. The vet was very knowledgeable about birds, even though not a chicken specialist, and completely understood my feeling that this could be a reoccurring proplem. The bird was a lovely looking hybrid, black with a green sheen to her feather, and a very tame little thing, who would hold 'clucking' conversations with me in the garden. She wasnt stressed by her recent confinement, or at the vets, so I am happy about that. Thank you all so much for your useful advice!
Sorry to hear this, Roisin, but I think it was the best decision for her.
