4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[jaystyal]

Hi there this is my first post, and sad to say its not a happy one.

 

I left for work at midday yesterday and my 3 hens were bobbing around happily as ever watched over by my 2 Cockerels.

 

My missus made sure all the Chickens were inside the main coop about 5pm, expecting they would all make their own way to bed as usual.

 

I came back home at 11pm and went over to lock the door on the bedding box only to find one of my White Silkie Hens dead on the floor under the nesting box.

 

She was as stiff as a board, legs outstretched, wings tucked in and her head tucked in as if preening, and after bringing her in to check what happened I noticed that her vent appeared to be slightly bloodied, and possibly looked as if she may have suffered a prolapse ?

 

This came as a big shock as she was the daftest happiest Chicken, and seemed to be the healthiest of the bunch, always a good layer, and I had never noticed any physical problems with her in the 10 months I owned her.

 

This morning I found her last egg, laid yesterday, decent sized, but with a painfully thin shell, but no signs of blood or any signs that it was difficult to pass.

 

Surely if she had a prolapse she would have shown some signs of distress ? and if it only happened yesterday could it have killed her so quickly ?

 

Any advice would be great !

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry about your poor chicken . I don't know much about prolapses so can't really advise you - just wanted to say hello and offer sympathy .

[Redwing]

I'm so sorry about your poor girl

 

Prolapses can be nasty, one of my hens had one and showed no signs of discomfort in fact I left her for a bit and went to calm down, luckily it was quite clean and I managed to deal with it but it was during this time I realised how serious they were, one fellow forum member lost one of her hens on the same day from a prolapse.

 

I had no warning of any problems before it happened and my hen was healthy at the time

its just one of those things I am afraid

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear your news.

 

A prolapse is a serious event as you have sadly discovered, and can be the result of the hen laying an extra large egg.

 

A calcium supplement such as calcivet ot ZolcalD will help with the muscular contractions and assist the passage of the egg along the oviduct and may help prevent overlarge eggs being laid. These both contain Vit D3, which assists with the absorption of the calcium, and will also help prevent further soft shelled eggs........for future reference.

 

Welcome to the forum. Sorry your first post is an unhappy one.

[Lesley]

Sorry your first post had to be a sad one - I've moved this to the Clinic as more people will see it here and be able to offer advice.

 

As Egluntine says, the supplements are a good idea for future reference.

[jaystyal]

Thanks Guys,

 

I guess its really hard to take as it came as such a shock, especially to the missus who now blames herself because she didnt have time to check the chooks, but we also had a poorly baby !

 

I've been giving crushed oyster shell, and using poultry spice as a supplement as well as Battles Poultry drink in the water..so hopefully the others will all be in good health for the forseeable future...I just hope the poor girl didnt suffer, thats what cuts me up the most, wondering if I could have done anything to help ?

 

RIP Pepper

[Egluntyne]

Honestly....don't beat yourself up about it. It sounds as if you are doing a great job with the others, and there would have been nothing you could have done that would have altered things.

[Groovychook]

Really sorry to hear about your girl xx

[Chickvic]

Sorry to hear about Pepper

[WitchHazel]

Sorry to hear about your girl.