Kit Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 I am trying to find some answer regarding one of my hens Martha. Before we left for lunch Martha was fine but when we returned at 4.30pm I found her collapsed on the paddock lying in the snow. After closer inspection when she was indoors in the warmth I noticed that part of her bum was sticking out but clean, I was going to push it back in but she looked like she was straining so I immediately took her to the emergency vet who informed me that they only deal with small animals.( I wanted to ask her how big did the hen look to warrant not being a small animal) Anyway she said that she did not have any experience with hens and after poking her fingers inside the hen she concluded that there was nothing stuck in there. As Martha was lying on her side, legs shaking and clearly straining her bum the kindest thing was to put her to sleep by way of an injection as she did not know how to cull. Does anybody know what it could have been and would she still be alive if I had took her to an experienced vet? and if I did not panic and kept her indoors would she have gotten better over the next few days Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 I'm sorry about your hen It sounded like it was a prolapse, hens can recover from these but it depends on how bad they are and how much the hen fights the re-insertion of it Some people have put the prolapse back ok and others havent been so lucky I would have thought any vet would have known what a prolapse was and how to sort it out However if the hen was straining as much as you say then it may not have stayed in even if put back To be honest it could have gone either way Certainly dont beat yourself up about it by wondering 'what if....' I would however line yourself up with a good chicken vet for the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 I agree with the above Kit, it was a prolapse. Did she lay a particularly big egg today I wonder? It just happens sometimes sadly. xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted February 21, 2010 Author Share Posted February 21, 2010 Thanks Tash, Yes Justine has put me in touch with a good vet, my normal vet has her own hens and she has been good so far the only problem is she does not do on calls on all her emergency clinics are sent to the local cooperative emergency clinic. I don't think that I could have coped watching an animal suffer so put to sleep may have been the best. Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 I'm sorry but you couldn't have left her in distress like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Sorry to hear about your hen. I've never had a prolapse here *touches wood* so I would have been just as worried as you when it happened, so please dont blame yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 sorry to hear about your girl. I can really sympathise - I had one pts recently with a prolapse. Whilst the rational part of me tells me that I did the best...I still ask myself 'what if...' and I am still beating myself up as the vet took her upstairs to be PTS and I didn't go with her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 It was awful I expected it to be instantaneous like it was with my 19year cats but it too a wee while, longer than I wanted. I have sent her off to be cremated could not risk burial as I really did not want her to be dug up. Kit ps thank you everybody for your replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Kit - really sorry to hear about Martha. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 Thanks Poached.... hope you are well perhaps we will meet one day via the Jamsons! Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 I just wanted to reassure you, as I think you have done the right thing. When our girl (also a Martha) had her prolapse, I pushed it back in, and put her in a cat carrier separate from the flock as I hoped she would recover. Sadly she passed away, but with hindsight I think I should have helped her on her way to the big flock in the sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 So sorry to hear about your little hen. Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
