Chicken boarders

[grageomat]

My hen has tried to lay an egg and she has prolapsed with the egg hanging out of her vent in a fleshy sack i dont know what to do can anyone help?

Thank you

Grant

[Guest]

wash your hands thoroughly and put on some rubber gloves if you have some. bring her inside and very, very gently try to ease the egg out. Be careful not break it. Some vaseline might help.

 

Once you've got rid of the egg then very gently try to push the prolapse back inside the hen and keep her somewhere quiet and warm and keep an eye on her to make sure the bits stay where they should be.

 

Some rescue remedy would be good for the hen too.

 

That's what i'd do but hopefully an expert will be along very soon, good luck, fingers x'd for you!

[grageomat]

oh goodness thank you.

[Guest]

see this too

 

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6175

 

They do look horrible; I was absolutely traumatised by our leghorn when it happened but, thanks to this site and the guidance of it's members, she recovered. So this is what you do: Give the hen some junior soluble disprin, it's 85mg. per tab. Use a syringe in her beak if you cant get her to drink it. Clean the back end area gently to remove any muck, if there is any dried, dont pull it. Ours was passing clear / white liquid and it looked scary. Using a water based lubricant but not an oil, - or without, in an emergency - gently push the protuberance back into place, keeping one hand on the hens belly so that if possible, you can do this when she is not straining, which will force it out again. Apply a shedload of Preparation H to the vent area and if possible, definitely isolate the bird because the others will peck at any raw areas on her...With ours, the bulge popped out immediately, so I just smothered that with the PH and put her into isolation, with the intention of retrying later, which is recommended. When I went back to her however, the bulge had reinserted itself, thanks to the Prep H, I really do believe! Regardless, she recovered and I hope that yours does, too.

[Guest]

you could always ring the ex batt careline for advice too?

 

01362 822 904

 

or try your vet

[Redwing]

Wel spotted Poet, a reply within 4 minutes

 

As Poet says, try to ease the egg out of the prolapse without breaking it

 

Then clean up the prolapse and any egg remains (if the egg broke) as the article says ointment for piles will shrink the tissue back which will make the prolapse easier to reinsert - in an emergency I used sugar which also works well

 

Leave for a while then attempt to get it back inside the vent, use a finger to straighten it all out inside the vent, if you are left with creases and 'pockets' inside it may cause problems

 

Once back in put your palm over the vent and apply pressure for as long as you can - at least 20 mins though, this will give the prolapse more chance of staying in

 

Put the chook somewhere dark and warm and only feed wheat (or wheetabix/shredded wheat mixed with water) for a few days to try to prevent her from laying while her insides recover

[Redwing]

forgot to say, if you have trouble leave her for a while then try again, just make sure the tissue is nice and clean when you try later. some people have reported sucess several hours on from the prolapse

 

If you lie the chook on her back she will probably stay still while you are trying to help

 

If all else fails it may need a trip to the vet

[grageomat]

i have failed to get the egg out just cant manage it at all no clue as to where its meant to go grrrr i feel helpless, my chicken book says to break the egg! but im unsure how id manage it or if it would be sage to do so!? i might have to leave her for now and take her to the vet first thing tomorrow.

[Guest]

try calling your vet for some phone advice or try the BHWT careline? I wouldn't break the egg, that will probably cause an infection which may kill her

[Redwing]

If you cant see to extract the egg then dont break it you'll make things worse

 

Leave her in a dark place for an hour or so then check again, as any swelling subsides you may be able to see more clearly

 

If later you are forced to break the egg make a hole in it then stick your finger in to 'bung' the hole you made and try to pull it out that way

[Chucky Mama]

Any news?

[grageomat]

no joy, i tried vet on phone she had less advice than your selves so ill take her in when they open today and hopefully they can do something anything just dont like her being this way, shes clearly distressed!

[Egluntyne]

For now, I would keep her in a darkened crate, with only water to drink. Later, I would add some bland food such as weetabix, to try to slow the production of more eggs.

 

Keep the prolapsed area clean, and perhaps later, attempt to push it back in. Some lubricant jelly might help.

 

I hope the vet can sort her out for you.

[grageomat]

well the vet had to break the skin of the duct and break the egg and pull it out, i have now managed to push most of the prolapse back in after lots of attempts fingers crossed it will shrink back and stay up there, im just worried that the next egg will push it all back out! thanks to everyone for all your help looks like its a waiting game from here.

Grant

[Guest]

has the vet given you some antibiotics to give her? If not call them t'row and ask because she really ought to be covered by a course of baytril, just in case.

 

Like others have said, keep her isolated, warm and quiet and feed her what's been recommended.

 

I know the BHWT co-ordinator for the north west and she's developed a technique to deal with prolapses. She told me it involves horse bandages or something!? I don't know the exact details but i could give you her e-mail address if you wanted to ask her? I'll PM it to you.

[Guest]

ah! you seem to have turned off your PM button

Edited April 12, 2010 by Guest

[grageomat]

Poet thank you for the concern i did indeed get anitbiotics, if you could send me that email add that would be brilliant im hoping that by tomo its going to be fine but i have to expect the worse.

Thanks again Grant

[Guest]

Poet thank you for the concern i did indeed get anitbiotics, if you could send me that email add that would be brilliant im hoping that by tomo its going to be fine but i have to expect the worse.

Thanks again Grant

 

i'm hoping a mod has passed the mail address on to you, if not can you pm me your e-mail address as i can't pm you.

[Egluntyne]

No need to worry Poet. See the Reasons for Editing comment below your last post.

[Chucky Mama]

No need to worry Poet. See the Reasons for Editing comment below your last post.

 

My fault ( I made a boo boo sending the PM to Poet by mistake ) - all sorted now

[grageomat]

Ok an update to penelope

She still living thank goodness and seems happy, but im afraid that the prolapse just would not stay up there and the bit that was left has now died (i think well its gone black and hard) and she cant really poo properly it just kind of comes out this dead area and trickles all down her feathers the back of her just looks a mess!

I really dont know what else to do the vet doesnt seem to be clued up to be honest i might have to try another one, as he was talking about cutting bits and sewing it up but said didnt know how that would affect eggs if they would be able to come out! Im a bit distraught any more suggestions?

Grant

[Chucky Mama]

It doesn't really sound very promising I am afraid. If bit have gone hard and dry the tissue would have to be cut back to healthy tissue in order for her to survive. I think fear that you may have to make a difficult decison about whether you have her put to sleep.

[staceychristie]

Oh dear,

The poo sticking to feathers would be a very real source of infection. Prolapses are very hard to sort out, and even an experienced vet would possibly suggest PTS, as the trauma of any op, or treatment could easily send the bird to shock.

Sorry it's not the advice you are looking for - Hope that I'm completely wrong

 

Stacey

[grageomat]

oh no that is what i feared! i think i will try another vet see if they have any suggestions, i dont want her put to sleep but i dont want her living a horribble life cooped up on her own covered in poo all the time i havnt got the time to keep cleaning her contiuosly i feel horrible.

[staceychristie]

Thinking of you. You've done the right thing in thinking of her poor way of life if she pulls through.

It's an unenviable decision.

Have you used the 'recommended vets' on this forum?

 

 

Stacey