Prolapse - What to do?

I have an approx 3 year old red star (one who lays very large eggs) with prolapse. I noticed her butt was really poopy, and when I looked closely, I saw what looks almost exactly like the pictures here, in terms of color and size:

http://aprildphillips.blogspot.com/2008/07/just-call-me-chicken-doctor.html

I put her in the garage away from the others tonight while I'm trying to figure out what to do. So far all I've done is to clean it up a bit. Oh, and I did watch her poop a small solid poop right before I put her in the garage.

I've read a lot of posts and as often happens I've found a lot of conflicting information.

I think what I should definitely do is:

* Keep her in the dark so she stays calm and doesn't lay.
* Give her calcium. (I haven't given them any in a while.)

Now, what I'm unsure of because of conflicting advice in various threads is:

* Should I push it back in?

* Preparation H? A lot of people recommend this, but others say not to use it because it's for hemorrhoids, and this isn't one. Some say it will even make it worse.

* Honey?

* Nothing at all?

I'm going to call tomorrow to see if our excellent vet will work on her, but if not, I'm hoping to find a good plan of attack.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

-Ryan

I just went and checked on her and found another small solid poop - about 1.5" long and 1/4" in diameter. The feathers on her rear end (which are caked with poop) are moving in such a way that it looks like she's trying to push, though it may have just been her normal breathing. I hope I'm explaining that well.

Definitely use Preparation H, it's an anti-inflammatory, not magical hemorrhoid cream, it will still serve its purpose even though you're not treating a hemorrhoid. Gently push it back in. You will probably have to do this several times as each time she poops it could come back out. Hang in there, prolapse can take a while to heal but give her good care and she'll make it. Keep in mind that prolapse is usually caused by something worse... most commonly Coccidiosis, so be sure to check for any other symptoms. Good luck!

Yeah, I've red some conflicting things too.

I would soak her bottom in a warm bath, then some Vaseline or Neosporin after, because I figure it's probably safe, and should make her more comfortable. It also might lubricate things up in the hope that it would help nature take its course. Don't know whether I would try to push it back in or not; only gently if I did. Believe I'd hope the dark place and no laying would allow it to go back on its own, at least like overnight.

But I am no expert, have not even had this happen to me, just read about it here. Well, I am a nurse and have cared for sore human bottoms....

I would stay away from honey, just as I would not give it to a baby chick to eat, as we already know it is a no-no for human babies.

Good luck.

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Gosh, hope she's not trying to lay an egg right now....

Now I would definitely go with the warm bath, to soak the poop off.

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Thanks for the advice. I'm NOT second-guessing you, but the reasons given in the non-prep H posts is that hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels and prep H helps with that, whereas this is a protruding organ and not swollen vessels. But enough people do recommend prep H that I think it's probably a good idea.

Thanks again.

My favorite hen who lays large eggs had this happen too. I followed the BYC board's advice. I did thoroughly wash her rear in warm soapy water, then rinsed in warm water then used a gloved hand smeared with Preparation H to push the scary, bleeding, tissue back inside her-making sure no feathers wanted to stick to it and get pulled inside which would irritate it even more, then I held her with one arm cradled around her to keep her still, warm, and calm, and the other (the gloved hand) supporting her vent for like 15 minutes to help the tissue 'memory' get right so it wouldn't just plop out again. I kept her in a cage in the coop that evening in night, the next day I watched her real close and applied some more prep H when it looked like it wanted to protrude again. It took her about 3 days to get over it and start laying again. She's been fine ever since. She's my favorite hen and one of the best layers, so it was worth all the nasty yucky stuff to keep her around.

I swear the things we do for our chickens!

Certainly clean her bottom if it's dirty, keep her separated & calm. You can hold her upside-down and gently try to push it in. Try the Prep H, also plain white table sugar can help reduce the swelling. Depends on how far it's prolapsed.

I've heard it happens with fat hens, ones who have enjoyed a few too many treats. So perhaps adjust her diet if it's needed.

I wonder if these Red Stars are more prone to prolapse than other breeds, I had one who kept having blowouts. I wonder if they just lay their poor butts off.

I wish you success & your hen a complete recovery!

Thanks everyone!

She doesn't seem to have any other symptoms except for some discoloration on the tip of her comb which I think is just from some frostbite, and not disease. I'm thinking/hoping it's just because she lays giant eggs and is maybe a little short on calcium.

I did just realize that she had a dried yellow streak down one leg - different color than the poop and what I would consider yolk-colored. I hope that doesn't mean she has a broken egg inside her. If she does, how can I tell and what can be done?

I think you are on the right track~ I can give you an abbreviated version of my experience with a prolapsed hen.

She had a severe prolapse with her first egg (it had not passed yet) and it had pushed out part of the oviduct with the egg still trapped inside. She was straining every minute or two and calling out each time. It was horrifying! I frantically researched and did the warm bath, the prep H, and gently pushed everything back in with a gentle gloved hand and some olive oil.

She kept straining and pushing it out so we just kept gently working and massaging and finally she passed the egg. At that point the prolapse was so huge and swollen that I could only get part of it back in. We put her in a kitty carrier in a dark room with a heating pad on low. By morning the prep H had helped most of the swelling go down.
Unfortunately it got worse from there, as she started straining again, so we took her to an Avian vet. (OK here's where it starts getting expensive). $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I was taking her there to just get their opinion and have her put down, but they thought they could fix it and talked me into it. $$$$$$$$$$$$
I left with a chicken with 2 stitches in her cloaca, antibiotic tablets, anesthetic cream, and anti-inflammatory injections. They also injected her with something to stop ovulation so she could start healing up.
I did all the treatments and she got better and went back out with the flock, apparently no worse for wear. Then it happened again about 3 weeks later. THis time the egg was trapped in the oviduct and tore through. Bad, bad, bad. Back to the vet. Vet gave me the option of a chicken hysterectomy instead of putting her down. The price tag was OBSCENE!!!!!! So I chose to put her down, but the vet asked if he could adopt her and do the surgery and keep her in his menagerie of pets. It was a strange day, and I signed away my chicken.
A few months later I found I have Marek's in my flock, and in hindsight, her prolapse was most likely caused by ovarian tumors. He did mention that as a possible cause, but I did not think to call and find out what happened.
I think if I have another hen with prolapse I would do the same home remedies, but the rest of it was just over the top. If she's going to recover and be OK, the darkness, rest, etc will help. If your hen is not straining and crying out but just pushing a little then that is most likely because everything is so swollen. Getting that swelling down is important, and you may have to re-tuck the prolapse several times. Keep her in the dark or very dim light for several days and feed her yummy treats and yogurt, keep her hydrated, all the usual stuff.

I had to justify the money I spent as a quick course in Avian vet school. I feel more qualified to attend to my hen's medical needs now and know the anatomy which are all good things.
I hope your girl improves with good nursing care alone. Good Luck!