Hi all! I've been trying to help one of my sister's hens, an Easter Egger who is about a year old with a prolapsed vent. She's currently molting, so I don't think she is trying to lay eggs or anything, but I can't seem to have any luck with treating her!
I've been giving her warm baths to wash off the poo (she manages to get rid of the solids all right -- though she obviously strains to do it -- but the liquid part just kind of dribbles out and makes her bum a mess). Then I wipe the vent gently with witch hazel and honey, and push it back in, and usually I sit there and hold her with gentle pressure over the area (and a witch hazel compress) for about five minutes. I put her back in the dog crate she's in, and she seems okay, but then as soon as she tries to go to the bathroom it pops out again! Is this normal in the healing process? How many times a day should I be pushing it back in? There are some scabs on the top of the prolapsed area -- should I just leave those be?
I've also been giving her boiled crushed egg shells and poly-vi-sol in case she's calcium or mineral deficient.
I think she was doing a little better this morning...I did the treatment last night right before I turned off the light, hoping she wouldn't try to poo throughout the night and give her muscles time to rest. This morning I think the protrusion was a little less than yesterday. Is there anything else I can do for her or just keep her quiet and keep doing what I'm doing? I feel so bad for the poor girl...I just don't know what else to do.
Thanks!
~Lu
I've been giving her warm baths to wash off the poo (she manages to get rid of the solids all right -- though she obviously strains to do it -- but the liquid part just kind of dribbles out and makes her bum a mess). Then I wipe the vent gently with witch hazel and honey, and push it back in, and usually I sit there and hold her with gentle pressure over the area (and a witch hazel compress) for about five minutes. I put her back in the dog crate she's in, and she seems okay, but then as soon as she tries to go to the bathroom it pops out again! Is this normal in the healing process? How many times a day should I be pushing it back in? There are some scabs on the top of the prolapsed area -- should I just leave those be?
I've also been giving her boiled crushed egg shells and poly-vi-sol in case she's calcium or mineral deficient.
I think she was doing a little better this morning...I did the treatment last night right before I turned off the light, hoping she wouldn't try to poo throughout the night and give her muscles time to rest. This morning I think the protrusion was a little less than yesterday. Is there anything else I can do for her or just keep her quiet and keep doing what I'm doing? I feel so bad for the poor girl...I just don't know what else to do.
Thanks!
~Lu
