Help for egg-bound hen with prolapsed oviduct

[Rach and Rich]

Hi Everybody,

Our six-month old hen appears to have developed a prolapsed oviduct yesterday (Sunday). When I palpate, it feels like there's an egg inside the prolapse, hanging outside of her body.

I searched the forum and have been giving her sitz baths in calendula tincture, then applying Orajel for pain, and honey to shrink the prolapse and as a bacteriostat. We've separated her from the flock and are keeping her in a clean box.

I'm having trouble finding a vet who sees chickens in my area (Ashland, Oregon). My best hope is one who returns to town tomorrow.

I'm guessing she will need surgery to correct this, an expense I cannot easily afford. And yet I'd sure love to give lovely young Louise a chance at more life.

Have any of you dealt with a prolapse/egg-bound combination before? If we chose surgery, how likely is the problem to recur?

Thank you in advance,

Rachael

 

[greymane]

from the Finger Lakes of New York. This is definitely something you want to post in the Emergency section, however, I don't think Orajel is a good idea. I was told anything with "caine" in the name of ingredients (and Orajel has benzocaine) is toxic to poultry. Best of luck in finding a vet.

 

[Rach and Rich]

Thank you, Grey Mane. I did as you suggested!

 

[dianaross77]

Well that's certainly an unfortunate reason to join BYC. I hope you get it all figured out. Welcome and good luck.

 

[kyeschicks]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[NonnasBabies]

&

from Louisiana! So glad you joined!

Hope you can get her better!!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/ProlapsedOviduct/ProlapsedOviduct.html
Here is an article from a silkie breeder's website. I hope it helps.

Just as a side note, I have also read on BYC to avoid painkillers ending in "-caine" for poultry. I mention this since the article mentions giving it.

www.avianmedicine.net/ampa/29.pdf
see pg. 762 - this is a very long download so you might not be interested

 

[Rach and Rich]

Thank you, ChickensAreSweet!!! I'd read the article, but the chapter from the book is fantastic!

She made it through the night. We head to the vet in two hours.

Thanks, everyone, for your warm welcomes and support! It is much appreciated.

Rachael

 

[BellevueOmlet]

 

[Rach and Rich]

The vet did her best to puncture her egg and remove the large mass of necrotic tissue but the prolapse would not stay in. With more eggs coming down the pipe we could not see a way for her tissues to heal. So we put her down. If it had been just a prolapse or just a bound egg, she would have had a good chance, but the combination of the two was too much.

She was a brave and beautiful chicken

who came into the world with imperfect plumbing. It was an honor to have her in our lives and to be with her as she flew to the other side.

Thank you all for being there.

Love,
Rachael