Tunie B
Songster
- Oct 19, 2020
- 113
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My beautiful young Olive Egger hen, Blackberry, died suddenly today.
Unfortunately, I only discovered her prolapse about 30 minutes before she passed. I do not know if her flockmates caused it to worsen—I did not realize that was her issue until I went out this evening, saw her on the ground between the barn & a coop, and then saw her insides lying beside her. I went to get warm water, prep H, sugar, gloves, etc…But she had passed when I returned.
She was lethargic last night and hiding in the barn today. I knew something was up—she did not follow the flock to roost last night. I had to pick her up and bring her to barn.
I have had several losses in last 6 months—birds losing weight, being lethargic. I thought Blackberry was headed down the same path.
I love my birds and am not sure what to do to avoid this again. I plan to deworm everyone again (did last spring with goat Safeguard), just in case diarrhea was the cause (I’m seeing dirty butts).
I also have 3 roosters for what was 20 hens (2 bantam roosters, one standard). This balance was more reasonable with nearly 30 hens, but numbers are dropping.
Is prolapse caused by diarrhea? A normal glitch in laying? I usually buy Kalmbach layer feed. Sometimes I use Purina Layer Pearls (so I know there’s calcium).
I’m going to take a stool sample into the vet for fecal float, but—what else can I do?
Unfortunately, I only discovered her prolapse about 30 minutes before she passed. I do not know if her flockmates caused it to worsen—I did not realize that was her issue until I went out this evening, saw her on the ground between the barn & a coop, and then saw her insides lying beside her. I went to get warm water, prep H, sugar, gloves, etc…But she had passed when I returned.
She was lethargic last night and hiding in the barn today. I knew something was up—she did not follow the flock to roost last night. I had to pick her up and bring her to barn.
I have had several losses in last 6 months—birds losing weight, being lethargic. I thought Blackberry was headed down the same path.
I love my birds and am not sure what to do to avoid this again. I plan to deworm everyone again (did last spring with goat Safeguard), just in case diarrhea was the cause (I’m seeing dirty butts).
I also have 3 roosters for what was 20 hens (2 bantam roosters, one standard). This balance was more reasonable with nearly 30 hens, but numbers are dropping.
Is prolapse caused by diarrhea? A normal glitch in laying? I usually buy Kalmbach layer feed. Sometimes I use Purina Layer Pearls (so I know there’s calcium).
I’m going to take a stool sample into the vet for fecal float, but—what else can I do?
