Prolapse - possible injury too (GRAPHIC)

[Eggcessive]

I think @azygous figured that 300 mg of her calcium works, so try the 1 tablet of the larger dose, and see how that works.

 

[MandS]

She's had two already today....

Thanks. I'll cut back on it in that case.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've bathed her with salt water and removed what I could, although it's really baked on. I've then covered everything in honey. The urates are effectively dripping out of her continually because she's unable to control it and it's not mixing, as it normally would, with her poop. It just means that there's this constant dripping of this stuff that sets like concrete continually and it's very difficult to stop it building up.

I've kept her in the dark, apart from using a torch to allow her to see water and her food. She's eaten heartily again and I was able to get the first of the calcium and vitamin D tablet down her.

If you are trying to stop production, she needs darkness for 16hrs a day. She can have 8 hrs or so of light.

It's now my intention to bathe her every couple of hours to try and soften up this really hard coating. Each time I clean it up with salt water, I'm going to cover it with honey again.

I understand the white material builds up. That's a very commonly seen issue with a prolapse.
I would only give her a soak when she's heavily soiled, every couple of hours may be stressful to her.

Mineral Oil if you have that can help soften up the urates a little, but I've found that once the Prolapse and the tissue underneath is healed and ready to be retained, the material begins to naturally slough off more easily.

 

[MandS]

Thank you.

I managed to get a bit of it off yesterday. It was like a rubbery costing once the hard bits came off. I left a fair bit on but pushed the prolapse back in. It stayed in for about an hour and then she went to bed. This morning, she has pooped a lot but sadly it is out again.

I have found a vet (poultry specialist) who will operate on her today and put stitches to hold it in place. She will also give her the 6 month contraceptive, because yet again yesterday, she laid another soft shelled egg.

For me, the issue is that the vet is a 3.5 hour drive. I'm concerned about how comfortable I can make her when her prolapse is likely to be jostled continuously for 3 and 1/2 hours.

I'm waiting until they open for advice and also to check what I can and cannot give her because she is having a general anesthetic.

If she didn't have the prolapse, you'd think there was nothing wrong. She's eating, drinking and pooping like normal. She's fully alert and a bit irritated about being kept in a cage. She's preening (fortunately just her main plumage, not the prolapse) and she seems generally cheerful.

It's these soft shelled eggs that are doing (and have done) the damage.

I hope today goes well.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she might benefit from the hormone implant. I’m not sure that I would take her that far and put her to sleep though, for the stitches. Anesthesia is very hard on chickens, and some will die. I might try to get her over the prolapse and then later get the implant, since it doesn’t require anesthesia. But that is all up to you, and I support what you choose to do. Many people report that it can take up to a week or more for a prolapse to go back in to stay. A few do not get better, or they may prolapse part of their intestines. I would keep it oiled, and try to not soak her as often. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[MandS]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm currently sitting in a cafe having driven 3.5 hours to the poultry vet. She's being operated on as I type this.

Fingers crossed. I do realise there is a risk - the vet was very clear about that but her heart and lungs were strong and she's in fine fettle other than the prolapse.

I did manage to get it in last night but it was out again this morning. That clinched it for me - it was just this terrible straining that she goes through.

Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it.

I'll update later.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Good luck!!!!

 

[Eggcessive]

I am hoping that everything goes well for your hen. Let us know how she gets along, and good luck.

 

[MandS]

Thank you.

She came out of the op well. She had about 10 stitches in total. She came home (very long drive...) but apart from the first hour where she was trying to settle, once she got comfortable, she just sat and watched the world go by and slept.

At home, she ate well and drank. I kept her in a room with me so I could hear if she started straining. She didn't until this morning at 8am, when all of a sudden she started big strains. I did a digital inspection and thought I could clearly feel an egg.

After about 10 mins of pushing she delivered a fully hardened shelter egg... and immediately after it a soft shell one but without the leather shell. I've tried finding it inside her but I cannot. She's straining every now and then, which I assume is her trying to move it along the duct.

She's a bit quiet now. Although she's eaten and had drink, her crop is quite slow, but as the vet said (who has just done a WhatsApp video call) - she had an hour of general anesthetic yesterday, so it will have slowed things down.

Up until egg laying, I would have said she was so much better but she's a little subdued at the moment.

I had her sleeping on my lap for about 30 mins but now she's got more curious as to what's going on around her.

Here she is: the stitches

Immediately after the op

And right now after laying two eggs at once

I think she's shattered but she's just had a brief wander around, pecked some food and had a drink. She's sitting down but she's elevated her tail end.

I'll keep you updated.

 

[SusieChickP]

Thank you.

She came out of the op well. She had about 10 stitches in total. She came home (very long drive...) but apart from the first hour where she was trying to settle, once she got comfortable, she just sat and watched the world go by and slept.

At home, she ate well and drank. I kept her in a room with me so I could hear if she started straining. She didn't until this morning at 8am, when all of a sudden she started big strains. I did a digital inspection and thought I could clearly feel an egg.

After about 10 mins of pushing she delivered a fully hardened shelter egg... and immediately after it a soft shell one but without the leather shell. I've tried finding it inside her but I cannot. She's straining every now and then, which I assume is her trying to move it along the duct.

She's a bit quiet now. Although she's eaten and had drink, her crop is quite slow, but as the vet said (who has just done a WhatsApp video call) - she had an hour of general anesthetic yesterday, so it will have slowed things down.

Up until egg laying, I would have said she was so much better but she's a little subdued at the moment.

I had her sleeping on my lap for about 30 mins but now she's got more curious as to what's going on around her.

Here she is: the stitchesView attachment 4106018
Immediately after the op
View attachment 4106019

And right now after laying two eggs at once
View attachment 4106021

I think she's shattered but she's just had a brief wander around, pecked some food and had a drink. She's sitting down but she's elevated her tail end.

I'll keep you updated.

That sounds very positive. I would imagine it will take her a good 24 hours to get over the general anaesthetic so it’s good that she’s already eating and drinking well.

I hope she realises what a lucky chicken she is to have you looking after her. I love that you kept her in the room with you