Home treatment of prolapse

[Bob1960]

Hi, I'm new to this forum as a poster. In the last few days I have become more familiar with a chicken's butt than I ever thought or imagined.

A couple of days ago we noticed first that our leghorn was laying eggs smeared with blood, then with more examination she's clearly had a prolapse. After reading several threads on this site, we're now treating her by:

- isolation - there was no apparent pecking that had been done not sure if the bloody eggs mean there had been pecking, or was just a result of egg laying with the prolapse
- pushing the protruding material back in
- applying antibiotic ointment, then last night preparation H
- reduced feed
- vitamin and probiotic additive to her water
- reduced light - today I've blocked the light into the room she's in after about 4-5 hours of daylight

First, the preparation H seems to have helped, it is the first time I've checked her that the prolapse hasn't recurred. Before, it has stayed in for the time being, but the next time we check on her it is back. This time it stayed in over night.

Next, I am concerned that she's got an egg in there. She hasn't laid one since we isolated her, but I feel one when I push my finger inside. I was squicky about it, but someone suggested it was important to know. But now that I know it is there, I'm not sure what to do about it. I read someone talking about trying to break the egg inside to get it out, but I don't know what you do to break it, and then how you get the shell shards out without hurting her. She's not apparently straining to lay it. I read that is marked by bobbing and other noticeable movements. Should I just leave it alone?

I've read that one cause of prolapse is laying too large eggs. She's the one leghorn we have, she's about half the size of the others in the flock and consistently lays much larger eggs: Wyandotte and Brahma lay 27 oz/dozen, Leghorn lays 32.25 oz per dozen. I suppose this is a silly question, but is there any way to get her to lay smaller eggs? Change her feed or something?

Finally, are there other measures we should take?

Thank you for your help,
Bob

 

[CSAchook]

Hi @Bob1960 ! Welcome to BYC! I am so sorry to hear that your hen is having trouble. But you have come to the right site!

Normally, if a hen is egg-bound (has an egg stuck inside) soaking her in a warm epsom salt bath can help her pass the egg (DO NOT break the egg inside her. Your instincts are 100% correct there). A dose of extra calcium like from a crushed up tums tablet can also be beneficial.

I am not as familiar with prolapse treatment but I will tag some others who are much more knowledgeable.

@azygous @ChickenCanoe @Eggcessive could you folks please advice?
@casportpony , ma'am could you please offer some guidance? Also, can you help Bob get this thread moved to the emergencies section? Thanks!

 

[Maddison]

DO NOT break the egg!! the only way I've heard to fix an egg bound hen is to put your hand up there and gently grab it out yourself, I'd assume your squeamish to this so any vet could do this for you. a common cause of prolapsed vent is putting her with a rooster before shes laying. I had a rescue hen whom went through this and despite our efforts the flies got to her and it was pretty nasty, she unfortunatey had to be put down. so if she is egg bound this problem wont solve itself, unless you can do it yourself take her to a vet to get the egg out, then you can proceed with treating the prolapse effectively. here is a site that may be helpful https://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/Vent-prolapse-overview-H263.aspx

 

[Bob1960]

Doesn't seem to be egg bound. Treated the prolapse mainly with finger and Prep-H, isolated her for a few days, and she seems to have recovered. She's back in the (small) flock, laying now, and seems to be doing well. Thanks for your help!