My hen has a prolapsed vent !

[Kris5902]

When we have a ewe with a prolapse uterus (usually triplets, sometimes twins) there’s a little insert device... kind of like a flared u shape, that we then sew or pin into the wool to hold the uterus/birth canal in place. As chickens lay/poop from the same vent that’s clearly not a possible solution. (We don’t stitch our sheep or cows, never had any prolapse issues with cows either, but I’ve heard of it being done with sheep).

Is there any possibility of a chicken diaper, pressure bandage like thing that could help without blocking the passage? Like a post surgery doughnut butt cushion idea? To help hold it in while she heals assuming there’s no other underlying issues (that’s what I’d be worried about... why did it prolapse to begin with?)

Again, I’m not knowledgeable about chickens, just stating ideas/questions about this, based on the things I do have experience with!

 

[Aunt Angus]

When we have a ewe with a prolapse uterus (usually triplets, sometimes twins) there’s a little insert device... kind of like a flared u shape, that we then sew or pin into the wool to hold the uterus/birth canal in place. As chickens lay/poop from the same vent that’s clearly not a possible solution. (We don’t stitch our sheep or cows, never had any prolapse issues with cows either, but I’ve heard of it being done with sheep).

Is there any possibility of a chicken diaper, pressure bandage like thing that could help without blocking the passage? Like a post surgery doughnut butt cushion idea? To help hold it in while she heals assuming there’s no other underlying issues (that’s what I’d be worried about... why did it prolapse to begin with?)

Again, I’m not knowledgeable about chickens, just stating ideas/questions about this, based on the things I do have experience with!

I've read about lots of people doing just that with all kinds of materials. I'm sure a search of the forums (fora for you Latin purists) will yield myriad posts.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

When you say her crop was half full, what did it feel like? Soft or hard? Can you describe it?

For her crop, it is good you are giving her coconut oil orally. What you need to do is gently massage her crop after a dose of coconut oil. The idea of doing this is that the crop acts as a holding pouch for your chickens food from where it continues down her digestive system for digestion so she can get all her necessary nutrients. If her crop is not emptying it means for whatever reason she is not getting the nourishment from her feed as it is stuck in her crop. Massaging her crop will gently allow the feed in there to continue it's journey to her gizzard (organ where digestion takes place). So you will be gently massaging her crop in a circular motion to assist this. The coconut oil will help break up the impaction.

If I have not been clear enough on this just say! You'll need to massage a few times a day which thankfully should be doable considering you are spending lots of time with this little one. Lots of chickens seem to really like the crop massage.
Tonight when she is in for the night take her feed and water away from her, to check her crop tomorrow morning again.. We will take it from there!
She is lovely

 

[chicki291]

I gave her an epsom salt bath today, she seemed really sluggish afterwards. She did eat again, a bit of egg, her feed, watermelon and also a bit of crushed corn. I got some of the dead tissue off, but some of it really struggled to wash off, so for now I left the dead tissue there with the prolapse hanging out. I put on a lot of vaseline and then let her walk. She didn't really want to walk around while she was wet. It's a sunny day so she dried quickly. She's walking around again and also pooping on her own - and her crop emptied on it's own.. yay!! So she's standing around now, I'm going to try and wash her again later and put he prolapse back in, I'll keep you updated on that !
Tommorow we might be going out until the day after.. she will have feed and water but do you guys think that she will be okay on her own?

 

[Cragg Klefor]

I gave her an epsom salt bath today, she seemed really sluggish afterwards. She did eat again, a bit of egg, her feed, watermelon and also a bit of crushed corn. I got some of the dead tissue off, but some of it really struggled to wash off, so for now I left the dead tissue there with the prolapse hanging out. I put on a lot of vaseline and then let her walk. She didn't really want to walk around while she was wet. It's a sunny day so she dried quickly. She's walking around again and also pooping on her own - and her crop emptied on it's own.. yay!! So she's standing around now, I'm going to try and wash her again later and put he prolapse back in, I'll keep you updated on that !
Tommorow we might be going out until the day after.. she will have feed and water but do you guys think that she will be okay on her own?

As far as I am aware, it's important that you try keep that prolapse in at all costs. It's not ok to leave it out. The sooner it stays in the less chance of long term effects so try to keep it in if you can. If you have to go away I would think about bandaging her. Have you seen any of the posts on here about prolapse bandaging?
Great to hear her crop emptied!

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Here is a link to a thread detailing how one member successfully bandaged a prolapsed vent: Very first post. You think you could do this?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/successful-vent-prolapse-treatment-with-photos.1101406/.

 

[chicki291]

Here is a link to a thread detailing how one member successfully bandaged a prolapsed vent: Very first post. You think you could do this?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/successful-vent-prolapse-treatment-with-photos.1101406/.

I dont think that I can do that but ill put the prolapse back in now. Is it okay if some of the dead tissue goes back inside? Or should alll of the dead tissue be off befire inserting the prolapse?

 

[chicki291]

When you say her crop was half full, what did it feel like? Soft or hard? Can you describe it?

For her crop, it is good you are giving her coconut oil orally. What you need to do is gently massage her crop after a dose of coconut oil. The idea of doing this is that the crop acts as a holding pouch for your chickens food from where it continues down her digestive system for digestion so she can get all her necessary nutrients. If her crop is not emptying it means for whatever reason she is not getting the nourishment from her feed as it is stuck in her crop. Massaging her crop will gently allow the feed in there to continue it's journey to her gizzard (organ where digestion takes place). So you will be gently massaging her crop in a circular motion to assist this. The coconut oil will help break up the impaction.

If I have not been clear enough on this just say! You'll need to massage a few times a day which thankfully should be doable considering you are spending lots of time with this little one. Lots of chickens seem to really like the crop massage.
Tonight when she is in for the night take her feed and water away from her, to check her crop tomorrow morning again.. We will take it from there!
She is lovely

I totally understand ! I do it alot to her. But it emptied on its own anyways so it's fine !

 

[chicki291]

When you say her crop was half full, what did it feel like? Soft or hard? Can you describe it?

For her crop, it is good you are giving her coconut oil orally. What you need to do is gently massage her crop after a dose of coconut oil. The idea of doing this is that the crop acts as a holding pouch for your chickens food from where it continues down her digestive system for digestion so she can get all her necessary nutrients. If her crop is not emptying it means for whatever reason she is not getting the nourishment from her feed as it is stuck in her crop. Massaging her crop will gently allow the feed in there to continue it's journey to her gizzard (organ where digestion takes place). So you will be gently massaging her crop in a circular motion to assist this. The coconut oil will help break up the impaction.

If I have not been clear enough on this just say! You'll need to massage a few times a day which thankfully should be doable considering you are spending lots of time with this little one. Lots of chickens seem to really like the crop massage.
Tonight when she is in for the night take her feed and water away from her, to check her crop tomorrow morning again.. We will take it from there!
She is lovely

I totally understand ! I do it alot to her. But it emptied on its own anyways so it's fine !

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Put lots of coconut oil on that dried skin to soften it, gently remove it. It may bleed a little but it needs to come off to prevent infection. If you need to soak her again, do. Once that dried tissue is off, then push the prolapse back in and hold it again.
Did you get to speak with that vet?