Hello All....
History: we live on a farm with 14 japanese black tailed whites and 4 ducklings. Sick hen is approx 18 months old.
The other day we noticed that one of our hens was not coming out for scratch. Her tail was straight to the back (she is a japanese black tailed white, and they usually hold their tails very proud), her comb was VERY dark red. Picked her up and her bottom was a mess with white exudate, an angry red bulbous tissue with some tissue that honestly reminded me of a newborn's belly button when it is drying and falling off--black and greenish/whitish and sort of gross. No evidence of lodged egg on palpation. We had noticed some blood streaks on a couple of eggs; we presume they were hers, but not certain--we just had a hen go broody, and basically the eggs could have been from any of three hens.
Brought her in, bathed her as much as possible in epsom salt water. The black tissue or whatever will not budge at all. Used prepH and raw honey to try to push red tissue back in. Held it but it came out again. Figured she would die, but we put her in a small brooder, gave her water with probiotics and electrolytes, food, grit. She took a sip of water.
Next day her comb is regular color again and she is slightly more perky (gave a little noise, obviously had turned around in her brooder). I saw her drink more and eat some corn that had fallen in the water. Her tail was more erect though not norm. I cleaned her bottom as much as possible. The red tissue was more pink, the black tissue was still horrible and her bottom was still covered in white mess. Sprayed with Vetericyn to try to keep infection down. Again with the honey, the prepH, and several minutes of holding the prolapse in. Still won't stay. Made sure brooder was covered to keep her dark so she would not lay.
Day 3 EXACT same thing. Messy bottom. Used Vetericyn to try to disinfect/get dark tissue off. Held vent in but still prolapsed a bit. Very concerned that the black tissue is dead tissue but won't come off. No evidence of actual pooping in the brooder.
Today is Day 4. She is still relatively sharp eyed, her comb color is still normal, but she looks a little more pale around the eye--a little yellow. Has been drinking water. Ate some shell. Still not moving a lot, still mucky on the bottom. However, dark tissue now looks sort of yellowish and not black and crusty. Prolapse went back in and stayed (so far). Sprayed area with Vetericyn. She was shaking when I held her on her back this time. Starting on tetracycline to forestall sepsis.
She is obviously not feeling good but isn't acting on death's door either. I don't want her to die a slow, horrible death from sepsis, but I also don't want to call the game early. This is our first experience with prolapse.
I am also concerned that the brooder is staying so clean, so either the muck I am cleaning up is all the poop or she is retaining. I am not sure which.
Taking her to a chicken vet is not an option. Whatever needs to be done, we have to do it. How long until I can expect to know if the prolapse will stay or not? Anything else I need to be watching for? When will I know if she is septic?
Thanks all!
History: we live on a farm with 14 japanese black tailed whites and 4 ducklings. Sick hen is approx 18 months old.
The other day we noticed that one of our hens was not coming out for scratch. Her tail was straight to the back (she is a japanese black tailed white, and they usually hold their tails very proud), her comb was VERY dark red. Picked her up and her bottom was a mess with white exudate, an angry red bulbous tissue with some tissue that honestly reminded me of a newborn's belly button when it is drying and falling off--black and greenish/whitish and sort of gross. No evidence of lodged egg on palpation. We had noticed some blood streaks on a couple of eggs; we presume they were hers, but not certain--we just had a hen go broody, and basically the eggs could have been from any of three hens.
Brought her in, bathed her as much as possible in epsom salt water. The black tissue or whatever will not budge at all. Used prepH and raw honey to try to push red tissue back in. Held it but it came out again. Figured she would die, but we put her in a small brooder, gave her water with probiotics and electrolytes, food, grit. She took a sip of water.
Next day her comb is regular color again and she is slightly more perky (gave a little noise, obviously had turned around in her brooder). I saw her drink more and eat some corn that had fallen in the water. Her tail was more erect though not norm. I cleaned her bottom as much as possible. The red tissue was more pink, the black tissue was still horrible and her bottom was still covered in white mess. Sprayed with Vetericyn to try to keep infection down. Again with the honey, the prepH, and several minutes of holding the prolapse in. Still won't stay. Made sure brooder was covered to keep her dark so she would not lay.
Day 3 EXACT same thing. Messy bottom. Used Vetericyn to try to disinfect/get dark tissue off. Held vent in but still prolapsed a bit. Very concerned that the black tissue is dead tissue but won't come off. No evidence of actual pooping in the brooder.
Today is Day 4. She is still relatively sharp eyed, her comb color is still normal, but she looks a little more pale around the eye--a little yellow. Has been drinking water. Ate some shell. Still not moving a lot, still mucky on the bottom. However, dark tissue now looks sort of yellowish and not black and crusty. Prolapse went back in and stayed (so far). Sprayed area with Vetericyn. She was shaking when I held her on her back this time. Starting on tetracycline to forestall sepsis.
She is obviously not feeling good but isn't acting on death's door either. I don't want her to die a slow, horrible death from sepsis, but I also don't want to call the game early. This is our first experience with prolapse.
I am also concerned that the brooder is staying so clean, so either the muck I am cleaning up is all the poop or she is retaining. I am not sure which.
Taking her to a chicken vet is not an option. Whatever needs to be done, we have to do it. How long until I can expect to know if the prolapse will stay or not? Anything else I need to be watching for? When will I know if she is septic?
Thanks all!
We are going to butcher some roos today and then re-integrate her to the flock. I am so thankful to the Lord that she is all better!
