Do I quarantine for prolapse?

[ThePhoebeFive]

I have a week old chick with a prolapsed vent. I pushed it back in with a q-tip coated in aloe vera and iodine last night and I've been putting aloe and iodine around her vent. I've heard that your supposed to quarantine that chick so that the others don't accidentally hurt her pecking at it if it comes out again. But, at the same time I've heard that excessive peeping can cause prolapse and she gets so upset when I seperate her. What do I do? Do I quarantine and risk her prolapsing again or do I leave her in and risk the others hurting her?

 

[Eggcessive]

A week old chick should be with it’s flock, but watch to see they are not pecking it. Separate in the brooder with a screen or shoebox, only if they are pecking it. Keep it from drying out with cortisone cream, vaseline, etc. It should be eating and drinking. Dip it’s beak often. Add a little warm water to a small amount of chick crumbles in a tiny bowl for interest. Pasty butt or constipation can be a reason for straining and prolapse. Offering a few chips of chilled coconut oil cut into tiny piece can help with pasty butt.

 

[catsndogs4us]

I just went through something like this with a 10 day old bantam chick although it wasn't fully prolapsed and was caused by excess pasty butt due to poor care in feed store. I had already been doing epsom salt soak and vaseline for this one and the other three chicks who weren't quite as bad. A member here suggested hydrocortisone cream and that brought down the swelling on her rear and what had been out was back in the chick by morning. After the hydrocortisone I put a lot of vaseline on it and shut off the lights in the room a little early so the chicks would go to sleep and not peck at the most hurt one. Things were a lot better by morning and now she and her 3 fellow chicks (who also had issues) are getting better every day. I hope your chick gets better.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Wyorp Rock, I've seen you have helped others out with this issue. Do you have any thoughts?

A week old chick should be with it’s flock, but watch to see they are not pecking it. Separate in the brooder with a screen or shoebox, only if they are pecking it. Keep it from drying out with cortisone cream, vaseline, etc. It should be eating and drinking. Dip it’s beak often. Add a little warm water to a small amount of chick crumbles in a tiny bowl for interest. Pasty butt or constipation can be a reason for straining and prolapse. Offering a few chips of chilled coconut oil cut into tiny piece can help with pasty butt.

It sounds like you are doing what you can.
I agree with the above suggestions of keeping her hydrated, the tissue moist and giving a little coconut oil to help with constipation.
Warm epsom salts compresses may help reduce some of the swelling, just be sure to dry her well and keep the tissue moist.

Hopefully this will resolve in a couple of days.

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

It sounds like you are doing what you can.
I agree with the above suggestions of keeping her hydrated, the tissue moist and giving a little coconut oil to help with constipation.
Warm epsom salts compresses may help reduce some of the swelling, just be sure to dry her well and keep the tissue moist.

Hopefully this will resolve in a couple of days.

Okay, thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is she able to poop with the tissue exposed?

It's probably too swollen to stay in. Keep the tissue moist with your ointment at all times so it doesn't dry out. You can try a warm epsom salts soak (her little bum) to see if that helps with inflammation, but again, if it's really swollen it may take a while to reduce enough to go back in and be retained.

If you do soak her, then dry her with a hair dryer so she doesn't get chilled.

Work on hydration and see if you can get the coconut oil into her to help soften the poop. You don't want to restrict food/water because she'll become dehydrated and week.

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

I have never had a hen with a prolapse, but based on what ive heard, as long as you keep following everyones instructions theres maybe a 70% chance it survives.

After a few days it just kept getting worse because she wouldn't stop messing with it. I talked to the person I was raising her for and we decided to put her down.

 

[Eggcessive]

Ugh. She just prolapsed again. Would epsom salt baths help?

Up to you, but you could dab a little on her vent, just don’t get her too chilled. Electrolytes are fine, but a couple of drops of Poultry NutriDrench can give a quicker boost. Have you taken any pictures of the prolapse? It should stay in or go back in when she stops being constipated. You may get more fluids into her with a mixture of water and chick crumbles.

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

I just went through something like this with a 10 day old bantam chick although it wasn't fully prolapsed and was caused by excess pasty butt due to poor care in feed store. I had already been doing epsom salt soak and vaseline for this one and the other three chicks who weren't quite as bad. A member here suggested hydrocortisone cream and that brought down the swelling on her rear and what had been out was back in the chick by morning. After the hydrocortisone I put a lot of vaseline on it and shut off the lights in the room a little early so the chicks would go to sleep and not peck at the most hurt one. Things were a lot better by morning and now she and her 3 fellow chicks (who also had issues) are getting better every day. I hope your chick gets better.

Last night I had treated it and then turned the light off to hopefully help, but like I said, she's still been doing it. I'll try doing it early tonight.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her picking at it is what's causing it to get worse.

Not sure what you can do to prevent her from picking or reaching around behind her.