I don't know, seems like I see the word prolapse more lately. I wonder if it is because we are feeding our girls some extra scratch to help keep them warmer. I wonder how much scratch is too much?
I personally think it has more to do with the fact that they are breeding the birds to lay earlier and larger... and they are not equipped to handle the strain of the larger eggs that early
Your also right about people over feeding the birds, most are pets and we do tend to spoil them... just a weeney bit..
Ok, maybe just a little. Actually, I have to keep telling DH to stop giving them so much scratch, but I've been feeding them myself lately, so I know they've not had to much this winter.
Sorry about just jumping in the middle of this topic but when I pulled up a search this is where it put me. We have 5 Chickens 3 Roadisalnd reds and 2 Buff. we got them in March so they would be about 9 months old. I feed them the layer food. and have mixed a little scratch in with it. The reds are actually on the smaller side when i compare them to the buffs and to my friends bard rocks. They started laying in July. The funny thing is thay are not acting sick or in pain. They want to keep running with the other and when I open the door to feed or water them they come flying at me wanting to go play. So I don't know. Any how, I thank you for taking the time to read and if you cann't tell I am new at this forum stuff. Have a great day, Stephanie
They've been laying since July and they just now prolapesed?
That is really weird. Mine is acting just fine too. I had to seperate her, because the other chickens would peck her to death.
Wow, I'm not getting my chicks until the end of March, Thank goodness Deniece is just a hop, skip, and a peep
away and also for BYC. There is sooooo much more to this than a person realizes. You all are such great help to those in need of advice or even just a smile. I'm sure when I get started I'll be on here a bunch.
Deniece, I'm saying some prayers for your girl, I hope she is doing better today. The snow stopped at last and the sun is out
Yeah, snow stopped, but I do snow removal. Had to work 12 hours yesterday.
Yes, my little girls is doing really well. I just wish she didn't stink so bad
She's in the house. Got her a hospital pen today that gives her more room. I'm thinking she'll be back with the girls before long. Sure glad I caught this one in time. Just hang out here, and you'll learn a lot.
Chickens really aren't as hard as it may seem when they have trouble. My dog was way worse with his jumping over fences and getting bad cuts.
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Hi Stephanie.... are you saying they have prolapsed?
How bad is it
Have you isolated the birds from each other and other birds, as they will peck at the prolapse... and they can (gross but true) peck the birds insides out leaving you with a hen still alive with with her vent and possibly intestine hanging out
Try to push them into a forced molt to stop them from laying .. allowing them to grow a little more in size internally before they continue to lay
My personal recommendation to push a bird into a forced molt is:
1. Decrease lighting to less than 6 hours a day, no artificial light in the coop
2. Stop feeding layer pellets, and table scraps and any other feed your giving apart from Wheat
3. Supply only half the amount of feed your normally feed the birds and it must only be in wheat and only wheat
4. They must have as much clean fresh water as they require
5. Once they start to molt, put them back onto their normal diet and increase the protein level in the diet to build them up and help them to re feather more quickly and better quality feathers
6. If you can get Food Grade Kelp, this is excellent for birds in molt, it helps feather quality and if you intend to hatch chicks you will also get healthier chicks. Mix the Kelp at 2% of dry feed ratio
7. Once they start to molt they can then resume getting the normal light during the day but dont add any extra lighting in the coop
8. By adding the extra protein to their diet they will re feather and start laying much quicker than normal, and the egg quality will be heavier not larger