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

[Margalot]

Hello,

 

I read smallholder magazine this month it had some really good articles about hens etc.

 

there was an article on prolapses in there, and some really graphic pictures It was all I could do to read the page!

 

I wondered how common this is in chickens? and how many of you have had to deal with this kind of thing?

 

Hopefully its not too common, but I was reading some of the causes that they suggested might make it more likely and it was pretty worrying! i.e. overfeeding/ too long days / algae in their drinkers etc

 

I must admit I have reviewed the treat quota I have been giving out and feel that I may have been getting carried away! its the same with my dog, you think you are treating them, but really its spoiling them! and they do eat their pellets more when offered less special treats.

 

My chooks are definitley food motivated

[Ain't Nobody Here]

My girls have never had one (but then I've only got 3 and they're only about 2 years old!)

[Redwing]

One of my hens has had a prolapse but I don't think they are particularly common thank goodness!

 

I read up a bit on prolapses and decided that as so many things are out of my control I wouldn't worry much beyond making sure the hens dont get overweight.

 

I do give treats every day but pad out a small handful of corn (between four chickens) with wheat and a bit of barley (both are also far cheaper than corn!) and lots of greens, I put the greens up on a shelf in their run so they have to jump up to get the goodies.

[Poached]

i have had hens for 5 years and have currently got 18 hens and have never had a prolapse

 

i dont think there that common but some people on here have had them

 

josh

[Mrs Frugal]

*Touching wood* I've not had a chicken with a prolapse in 5 years and during that time I've had 8 hens so I don't think it's that common. As long as you know what to do if it does happen, I wouldn't worry too much . There are good topics on the following websites which tell you what to do...

 

http://www.poultryhelp.com/prolapse.html

 

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/ProlapsedOviduct/ProlapsedOviduct.html

[The Dogmother]

It's not common at all, but well done for researching it.

 

It is more likely if the hen is overweight, or if you have a hybrid who lays very large eggs, or an ex-batt. It's almost unheard of in pure breeds, but then they lay less, smaller eggs.

 

Generally speaking, you can pop it back in yourself, but the hen will be prone to prolapse again and there's not guarantee that she won't do it again.

[feemcg]

I've seen it twice....first time with one of my hybrids, and I cleaned her up and popped it back in. She only ever laid a few eggs after this, and died of old age. The 2nd time was a pure breed, huge Speckled Sussex who didn't lay an egg until she was a year old, then kept prolapsing and having a very messy rear end. I tried but it wouldn't stay in so I had her PTS

[emmaw298]

Peggy one of my ex bats has had a prolapse twice now but I suspect ex-bats are more prone to it. She had her last prolapse on Sunday and she has just started crouching again so I'm keeping a close eye on her at the moment. The others will peck her to death if they see a prolapse before I do!

[Plum]

My chicken had a partial prolapse. It went back with a bit of help and never happened again. She lays 65-70g eggs so not as big as some.

 

Just hope it doesn't happen again but all seems ok