Solitary chicken - need advice

[wombatally]

Hi, I have just found my Speckledy Beefy trapped under a gate. Her 'backbody' had come out and I called my dad over (he's a farmer and has dealings of this sort with cows). He has eased it back in and we have put her in the nestbox to rest. She is very subdued (obviously) but doesn't seem in pain.

 

To be honest I thought dad would have to do the terrible deed when I found her but he said to give her until the morning as she doesn't appear to be in pain. He has checked her and doesn't think she has broken anything.

 

I think this is called prolapse and wondered if anyone else had experience. I'm really attached to her but if it is unusual for chickens to recover from this I don't want to cause her stress.

 

Any advice on how to look after her and good recovery stories would be greatly appreciated!

 

Many Thanks

Alison

[surferdog]

Sorry don't have any experience but just wanted to say hope she recovers soon.

[Egluntyne]

Poor girl.

 

Take her off layers pellets for the time being and feed her on something that won't encourage the formation of eggs, causing her to push it out again.

 

Some Weetabix or porridge made from oats would do for the time being.

 

Try to keep the area clean, and if it pops out again, bathe it gently and ask your Dad for some of his haemorroid ointment and smear it on to the prolapse gently.

 

It will cause the swollen tissue to shrink and it might go back in more easily , and possibly stay put.

 

Try to encourage her to drink.

[wombatally]

Thanks Egluntine for the help and both for the kindness, unfortunately she died tonight though. I checked on her and she was very subdued and sleepy and then an hour later she'd gone.

 

I have to say though although I desperately wanted her to be okay I grew up on a farm and in my heart of hearts I knew her chances weren't good. Fortunately she didn't seem in a lot of pain - she seemed to just shut down peacefully. I do feel rather relieved in a way because I was dreading going to sleep tonight knowing that she might not be there tomorrow, at least now I know she's not suffering.

 

My dad is also relieved that he won't have to help her along her way too, he's a tough old farmer who's used to such things but when it's a pet...

 

We're going to bury her tomorrow and plant a tree next to her (I am 31 and this has been going on since childhood!! Honestly, there is an orchard of pets now!)

 

Oh, it's funny how we get so attached to the feathery critters!

[Egg Lou]

So sorry to hear she lost her battle.. thought are with you

[bronze]

I'm sorry to hear about Beefy. Good to hear she wasn't in obvious pain and that your Dad was spared an ordeal.

[Omletina Kyckling]

I'm so sorry she's gone, but it sounds like she didn't suffer. I love the tree idea, what a wonderful thought....

[BeckyBoo]

Really sorry to hear about your chook, I have a little graveyard in the garden too, (Sadly my dog, who I buried 6ft down 15 years ago came back to visit us last year, skull first then backbones )

Anyway, I'm glad she didn't suffer, lots of love

 

Mrs B

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear that she didn't make it.

[wombatally]

Thanks everyone.

 

In my utter distress I got my chickens mixed up - it was Bumble not Beefy (they are very identical Speckledys only to be told apart by their behaviour) so we had a funeral for Beefy and only realised yesterday that it was in fact Bumble - now I have to mourn again!! If only I got days off work for mourning...

 

The others were very subdued for a couple of days as we got them all together but they seem to have worked out there is more food for them and gotten over it

 

We're now looking at increasing our flock as we had planned before the terrible day but we'll be getting 3 more not 2.

 

Thanks again for all your help.

Alison

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Only just caught up with this - I'm really sorry the poor wee thing didn't make it .

[surferdog]

Sorry she didn't make it Alison.