Advice for prolapse situation

[jonalisa]

I noticed my Silver Gray Dorking had poop all down her backside last night. I brought her in and gave her a warm soak with Epsom salts and saw that she is prolapsed. Not huge, but I can't get it to stay in. Epsom soaks; 2 last night and 2 this morning. I tried holding it in for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, but it hasn't stayed in long. The prolapse is not large, about an inch or two. I have put honey on it, hydrocortisone and even cbd oil. About an hour and a half earlier, I felt an egg in there so I put in in a crate covered with towels and she laid a perfect egg. However, she is still prolapsed.
She is in good spirits but getting upset at being crated last night and the in the kitchen today - she wants out. What are my options? I have company staying with me and I have a work call later...but my attention and concern is 100% on my girl. She's almost 5 yrs old. Most of my hens are 9 yrs old and this is my first prolapse.
Thanks for any help.

 

[lilmillefleur]

I don't think you should bathe her. Just apply the hydrocortisone. I don't know if that stuff can wash off but I don't think wetting her is necessary anyway.
I would recommend giving her some electrolytes or vitamins in her water to keep her less stressed, and make sure you're sanitizing her butt with gentle saline before you work on it. I'd also make sure she stays in a darker area so she doesn't feel tempted to lay another egg.
I'm no expert though, hoping for others to chime in.

 

[jonalisa]

I don't think you should bathe her. Just apply the hydrocortisone. I don't know if that stuff can wash off but I don't think wetting her is necessary anyway.
I would recommend giving her some electrolytes or vitamins in her water to keep her less stressed, and make sure you're sanitizing her butt with gentle saline before you work on it. I'd also make sure she stays in a darker area so she doesn't feel tempted to lay another egg.
I'm no expert though, hoping for others to chime in.

I have kept her in a crate with straw, covered in a towel. She has food and water and crumbled Tums. I've sprinkled the prolapse with sugar and tucked back in, holding it for about 2 minutes, but after about 20 seconds it comes back out. I wish I had a bigger crate, it is 2'x1.5'.
What happens if it doesn't resolve?? @casportpony @Eggcessive ideas?

 

[jonalisa]

I have kept her in a crate with straw, covered in a towel. She has food and water and crumbled Tums. I've sprinkled the prolapse with sugar and tucked back in, holding it for about 2 minutes, but after about 20 seconds it comes back out. I wish I had a bigger crate, it is 2'x1.5'.
What happens if it doesn't resolve?? @casportpony @Eggcessive ideas?

Well I think the sugar has worked when nothing else would. I'm off to bed and she's in a covered crate and her prolapse was back inside, the last two times I checked. Thank you, @puffypoo .

 

[jonalisa]

Well I think the sugar has worked when nothing else would. I'm off to bed and she's in a covered crate and her prolapse was back inside, the last two times I checked. Thank you, @puffypoo .

I was wrong - prolapsed again several times. I put sugar on it this morning and it went back in on its own. I checked 10 minutes later and it's prolapsed again.
I am so upset. I don't know what to do. I have her in my kitchen eating an egg sprinkled with tums. Should I crate her and cover it with towels? She has laid the last two days during this prolapse. The second had blood smears on the shell.
How long should I crate her...I don't want to be cruel either. I have to work tomorrow but I can work here at home. I'm just worried about her and need to know next steps.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your prolapsed hen. It can take days for some hens to have their prolapse stay in. Just keep it moist with honey, sugar and a few drops of sugar, or other lubricant as you are doing. Is she pooping? You could try giving some calcium and vitamin D for muscle contraction. I would place her out in the coop inside her crate. If a neighbor has a larger crate to borrow, that would be fine. She might be more comfortable with her flock, and it is easier not to have to reintroduce her. Stopping them from laying eggs temporarily, which takes several days of keeping them in darkness for 16 hours a day, can be helpful to allow the cloaca to heal, but is not always practical. Hopefully, she will get better in another day or two.

 

[jonalisa]

Sorry about your prolapsed hen. It can take days for some hens to have their prolapse stay in. Just keep it moist with honey, sugar and a few drops of sugar, or other lubricant as you are doing. Is she pooping? You could try giving some calcium and vitamin D for muscle contraction. I would place her out in the coop inside her crate. If a neighbor has a larger crate to borrow, that would be fine. She might be more comfortable with her flock, and it is easier not to have to reintroduce her. Stopping them from laying eggs temporarily, which takes several days of keeping them in darkness for 16 hours a day, can be helpful to allow the cloaca to heal, but is not always practical. Hopefully, she will get better in another day or two.

Thank you so much, @Eggcessive!
Yes, she is pooping. However, the urates are making a mess with her feathers and I have had to keep soaking her to clean up the area...and not sure if that is the right thing to do? I have been crushing tums into scrambled egg.
I just ordered a pop-up dog kennel with PVC frame at Walmart for immediate pickup that is 3'x2' - not huge but better than what I have. Will fill the bottom with sand and it should be sturdy.
When I apply the honey and sugar, etc - should I be pushing it back in? Or should I apply it and leave it so it has time to work? And lastly, if I can be out there supervising, is it better to give her free-range time, too?
Thank you so much! You are a Godsend.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, cleaning her up with a shallow bath is good to do when her vent feathers are soiled. That also helps the prolapse to heal, but once or twice a day is good. I would push the prolapse in each time I applied the lubricant. Good luck.

 

[jonalisa]

Will do - thanks again.

 

[jonalisa]

Yes, cleaning her up with a shallow bath is good to do when her vent feathers are soiled. That also helps the prolapse to heal, but once or twice a day is good. I would push the prolapse in each time I applied the lubricant. Good luck.

Well, today is day two of 16hrs of darkness. Sad to say nothing is working I bought Veterycin spray, as well. She's eating and drinking but is really having fits trying to get out of this crate. The only thing that seems to be helping at all is hot, wet facecloth compresses to the area. I've added a little vitamin E and cod liver oil to her food as well as some yogurt. Praying this resolves. I have another hen, Alice, who can barely walk. Thinking of opening a hospital.