Prolapses

[shchinchillas]

Found a silkie hen yesterday(Early April baby) who I thought prolapsed, when I flipped her over I notice she had an egg, that was still in the "membrane" but was on the outside of her. Never saw this one before... Took her up the house, put her in some warm water and after about 15 minutes of soaking the egg released. She then left me with a prolapse.


I did what I've done in the past with chinchillas that prolapse... I used both sugar water, and honey to try and get the prolapse to shrink and stay in. Ended up pushing it in 3 times, but every time she'd move it would come back out. We held her for a good 20 minutes in hopes that it would "stick" but as soon as she moved, out it came. Put in one last time, put her in a towel in a small cat carrier and left her for the night...

Any one actually have good results with keeping a prolapse from reoccurring? I'm thinking when she goes to lay another egg it will just do it again, anyway. I was thinking about putting in a stitch, but i'm not sure how that will go if she does need to lay another egg...

Would it be best just to put her down? Hate to say it but the few times with the chins that I had to deal with prolapse (intestinal) they ended up needing to be put down, as I couldn't get the intestines to stay in..so I don't look at prolapses with much hope these days.

 

[Judy]

I do think chickens can recover from this, especially if it was kicked off by an odd egg. You might try a few days in that cat carrier, darkened somewhat with a towel on top or whatever, to try to encourage her to rest and take a break from laying. Your remedies were fine, though.

Lots of folks use hemorrhoid ointment as it shrinks the mucous membranes.

If she were mine, I wouldn't give up just yet.

 

[shchinchillas]

We'll try the hemorrhoid cream as well.. She's eating and drinking... Hopefully she'll make it. It is fairly dark in the carrier, and she's in the house where it's quite a bit warmer then outside, especially at night.

 

[Imp]

ddawn is correct,

It has been posted that it often takes a few days before it stays inside.

Here's one thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=388579&p=1

Good luck

Imp

 

[shchinchillas]

Just an update.. While the uterus is still coming out, it is still a healthy pinkish/redish color. It's staying in for longer periods, and isn't out AS far. She's still drinking plenty of water, but not eating *AS* much as she has. She is looking more alert, though. Seems to enjoy her soaks--as she coo's the entire time she is in the water and being petted, and will actually sit up/walk around the cat carrier a bit... So far no eggs--thank god!


Keep her in your thoughts..hoping she improves some more tomorrow. I'm worried about shock/infection setting in..but so far she seems to be doing decently.

 

[chickpuffs]

HANG IN THERE!
My american game bantam Rosie was a couple weeks young of laying when she had a nasty, bloody prolapse. With the help of a local vet we gently washed it and used ky jelly (lubricant) and honey (antibacterial) to put it in. I was to hold it, as she kept pushing it out. After several hours of holding her, I put her to bed, but it was out in the morning. The vet instructed me to take her in to another vet who could do a small surgery. $50.- and several hours later I had my healthy bird back at home, neatly stiched up, with medicine to administer over the course of a week or so. She recovered quickly and was laying eggs within 2 weeks. A year later, she is bringing me delight daily, and I am thankful for the vet who took such good care of her.
I hope that your hen will be well and that you will be able to make a decision that you will be at peace with.

 

[shchinchillas]

Well she is still alive, and still in fairly good spirits. She did lay an egg yesterday, which didn't help things. Prolapse still LOOKS healthy, and ok. However I don't know how long it is "fair" to keep her like this. We were able to get it to stay in last night for quite awhile, until she went to the bathroom. That just pushed everything back out.