Horrific intestine prolapse, very very sad day

[Moobaleemoo]

We are relatively new to keeping chickens and yesterday had a terrible shock. Our beautiful Daisy suffered the most horrific prolapse. There was a vast amount of blood around the garden and not only was her bum bulging there was approx 2ft of dry and dirty intestine hanging from her. We tried to clean her but as we did so, there was lumps of what looked like her innards coming away. We also tried to rehydrate the intestines by dabbing them with water. We couldn't see how we could push any of the innards back as shown on the internet, we thought the best thing to do was to put her out of pain and put her to sleep. After many many tears today and constantly going over what we did, we aren't sure that we did the right thing. Nothing on the Internet was so horrific as what we were witnessing.
Very very sad day

We would appreciate any advise to prevent this re-occourance with our other chickens

From 2 very distraught chicken owners.

 

[sourland]

Sorry for the circumstances

. Prolapses just happen - nothing you did wrong. Perhaps she was born with a congenital weakness that eventually presented. You may go a lifetime of 'chicken keeping' and never have anothr hen prolapse.

 

[animallover505]

I'm so sorry.

 

[Moobaleemoo]

Thank you for the kind words, we just hope we did the right thing for her

 

[sourland]

You absolutely did the right thing. A prolapse that extensive, even if you managed to get it 'back in' would have introduced infection. Even minor prolapses which can be reduced frequently reoccur.

 

[jazzy519]

It's hard doing the right thing sometimes but we don't want are animals to suffer. Bless you