one week in dim shed quarantine after eggbound prolapse, can I reintegrate?

[thistlecreek1]

Last week Elphie had a prolapse, I gently tucked everything back in, and in the process found an egg close to the exit, but lost in the prolapse, It broke during gentle attempts to extricate, but I do think I managed to get all of it. I quarantined Elphie and offered her antibiotic spiked yogurt and water. She would not touch either, so after two days i offered clean water and small amounts of food with antibiotic powder mixed in. I know most advice is to hold food but I thought it was more important to get the antibiotic into her, her under belly felt hot and swollen and her legs were very warm to the touch, I assumed fever and the possibility of of another egg in the tact. I never saw another egg and the vent looks normal, still. She is pooping, so I believe the exit is not still twisted.

She has been on quarantine a week, she is in the shed, which has pretty dim light from two small windows, she goes to sleep about an hour before the other chickens go to the house for bed. I'm hoping the dim shed is enough to force her into molting or to at least quit her egg production for awhile.

Has anyone else ever forced molt on a hen? If you have experience with prolapse how long did you keep the hen in a sick cage? I'd like to let her get on with just being one of the flock, but I dont want to let her out early and create another problem.

 

[Marty1876]

I would keep her in quar. a bit longer. If you wish it, put a "friend" in with her (some gentle hen, maybe a silky if you have one or another feather gentle breed) for company, and to see how things go for her. How old is she? They normally are 15 or so monthes old before molt, but lowering light levels might be helpful if it is near her natural time.

 

[thistlecreek1]

I think she is about 4 years old, not young. I may start putting the cage in the hen house at night so she is in with the girls. It is that time of year for the laying to slow down anyway but I want to be careful to give her the best chance at a recovery without a repeat.

 

[Marty1876]

Quite understandable. At her age, she'll be slowed consdierably allready. I would go ahead with your time alteration plan, keep her in the dark 12 hours min, and cut back her layer rations, maybe just scratch grains. That will slow up production too. If shes a good hen, maybe keep her on the low light low lay program through winter, and get some nice big hatching eggs this spring.

Good luck. I really hope she does well for you, but at her age, it'll be a tougher road.

 

[thistlecreek1]

Thanks for the input, If she never lays much again, she has earned her retirement, She lays big eggs for her size, and she's always been a good producer. I'd rather her production dropped off that have to worry about another prolapse. And I hate for any of the girls to die a painful death.

She is getting scratch, that's how I'm getting the antibiotics into her.