Chick prob.

[lettucegrow!]

Help everyone in the know. My Copper Black who hasn't started to lay yet has a prolapse. I noticed it this evening after work. It's sticks out about 2 cms and she doesn't seem to be bothered about it and there's no blood. The others haven't bothered her yet.
I've just cleaned the area and tried to push it back with warm cloth but unsuccessful. The fact that she isn't laying yet- does this mean she will always have a weakness if she gets through this and has anyone managed to push a prolapse back and the hen been OK after?
Just as I was thinking everything's OK. She had worms which I have treated with Flubenvet (?s) and is now eating well and behaving much more like a normal hen- no more standing around,hunched and looking miserable.
HELP! First serious problem.

[MaureenHall]

Yes, I've pushed a prolapse back and it stayed back. The hen was (and still is ) an ex-batt and I'm fairly sure she's one of the ones that's stopped laying now.

[lettucegrow!]

I know it's gruesome but is it literally just pushing it in with fingers? Anything else that helps? I've read about applying cream for piles- but mixed thoughts on that one.
Do you think it's possible that there's an egg causing this? She hasn't laid yet.

[lettucegrow!]

Any ideas anyone? Have been thinking about this and if this prolapse is caused by first egg being laid there's no point in me pushing it back if there's an egg stuck somewhere. Surely I'll be making things worse.
Why is it the fav ones that cause the trouble????

[Nicos]

Darn- I'd not be sure what to do either.

I imagine if there is an egg behind, you'd feel some firm resistance when gently pushing it back??? ( as opposed to soft and pulpy??)

If an egg is coming out I'd imagine it'd get worse as the pressure increases???

Gawd- good luck-

Sometimes it's best not to do anything/ much until you are sure???
Mind you- the more a prolapse is forced out, the more the tissue is overstretched.

Hmm...I'd put some vaseline on my finger tips and have a very gentle fiddle.
Have you Googled how to do it? You may be lucky enough to find something helpful.

[Nicos]

I did find this until someone else is to hand...

BackYardChickens Forum / Inside out...HELP!

[jessmorris]

I've heard that you MUSTN'T use hemarrhoid cream as this shrinks the blood vessels making it hard for the prolapse to heal. A hemarrhoid is a varicose (swollen) vein while a prolapse is part of an organ that protrudes outside the body - they are quite different. I've read that isolating the hen can help, as can getting her to lose weight if she's too fat. Feeding her grain will stop her laying apparently, as will keeping her in the dark(ish) and quiet. This shopuld give the prolapse a chance to heal and stop the other hens eating her from outside in.
One of mine had a prolapse, I isolated her for a couple of days and it shrank back in with only a small piece left outside.
I don't really have much experience of this though.
Jess

[lettucegrow!]

Thanks all. Not looking good this am. She's very sleepy and evidence of yellowish liquid in nest box. She wasn't up when I went up to them this morning. I've cleaned the vent area with salt water and popped her back in the nest box with door shut. Strange thing is that the others are all very quiet this morning- even the pasta was met with a very dignified scramble.
Debating whether to get her to vets for Baytril - you can't buy it anywhere can you? or just letting nature take it's course.
Mods how's this post ended up being called Chick prob. when I posted Prolapse prob yesterday? Very odd.

[RichmondHens]

I would get her seen by a vet. If you are going there to get Baytril you might as well let them look at her too. She sounds very poorly. I have not heard of prolapse in a non laying hen and the only hen I have had with one was an old Rhodie who repeatedly prolapsed over a six month period until we decided to cull her. I did try and put the prolapse back several times but it always popped back out. She was otherwise well though and continued to lay despite everything. Ultimately though, she needed to go.

[lettucegrow!]

I don't like this game anymore

[lettucegrow!]

Very sad update. Back from the vets and they didn't think she would make it and that it would probably keep happening. Unusual in a hen that hasn't laid and by this evening she was looking very sleepy and hadn't moved out of the nest box all day, so decision made to put her to sleep. That's got to be one of the worst things to have to do, make that decision and sign the stupid bit of paper.
Haven't a clue what that's going to cost as I was too upset and just left rapidly. Said I'd settle up tomorrow.
life's hard sometimes isn't it? Just when I thought she was looking really healthy as well.

[Flummery]

So sorry to hear that. I've been lucky with mine so far, but one day the day will come.

[MrsC]

Just picked up this thread, sorry to hear about your hen x

[lettucegrow!]

Thanks. Can't believe how sad I feel!! I think it's because she was thriving after the worming issue, she was looking so healthy.
You just don't know, do you?

[Suechooks]

Every sympathy with you LG. Its always sad to lose a chook as they all have their little places in our lives, but its specially sad to lose a young bird like yours.