Partial Prolapse - HUGE Egg - Golden Campine 6.5 mos

[Chez Poulet]

One of my golden campines (6 1/2 months old) laid a HUGE egg today (2.2 ounces, ridiculously huge when they are normally 1.5 oz.) and then I started looking around for who may have laid it to see if she was okay. Four out of the five were following me around, so I knew one was hanging back, probably not feeling good. I found her puffed up and wobbly with a bit of pink tissue about the size of the end of your pinky sticking out and the smell wasn't too good. It didn't smell like poop, but something like the smell of meat gone off a bit. There was no blood around her vent and none on the egg. I took her into the house, washed her vent area off with saline, lubed up a gloved finger with KY and gently popped it back in. Then I took my pinky finger and gently pushed in to feel for any obstructions and it seemed smooth and clear.

She is resting in the house in a kennel and is on chick quix just for some vitamins/electrolytes. She feels like eating, so that is a good sign for now. She has pooped twice and they are normal. I'll keep you posted, but would like any other stories on little chickens laying BIG eggs, golden campines and prolapsed problems. How long might I keep her inside before it is okay to go back out? Maybe until after she lays her next egg? I have a vet on standby in case her condition worsens or if the innards don't stay in. His suggestion was to do exactly what I did and it was info I found on this forum.

Lori

 

[hinkjc]

When a hen prolapses, the best thing to do is shut down her lay cycle. You can do this a couple ways, but the easiest is to restrict light. Keep her in a dimly lit area (typically a red light is used) and allow her to eat/drink as usual and dark overnight.

She will likely lay another egg. There is always one in the "making", so keep a close eye to make sure it passes ok. Be prepare with Preparation H to keep swelling down in case of problems. A warm soak can help to relax her muscles to help her pass a "stuck" egg. I would not encourage "feeling" around for anything, as you could end up rupturing the egg and cause infection.

I had a full proloapse on a turkey hen once. It was horrible and the egg was completely encased in her uterine wall and on the outside of her body. I was able to soak it enough to unwrap the egg from the soft tissue and pushed the tissue back in her body. She didn't live for more than a year after. Altho, I was also not able to shut her cycle down - which I'm sure contributed to her death.

Jody

 

[Chez Poulet]

I can keep her in my guest room that stays about 65 degrees and is very dimly lit and can be dark. She is resting comfortably now and her innards are staying in for now even after pooping some normal amounts with good consistency.
Thanks.

 

[Chez Poulet]

I candled the egg and it looked like a double yolk, so I just cracked the egg open and it was.

She seems to be doing okay right now. She is eating her mash and pooping normally with no visible prolapse at this point. I'm going to get her into a quiet dark room now.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I would keep her at rest for quite a few more days. You want her to heal up as well as possible, her muscles are weakend and chances are she'll have this problem again.
If you haven't already done so, you might want to do a search on here.
One of my hens responded well to warm baths.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Only a BYC person would go the extra mile and smell a chicken's butt to find out what was wrong.

 

[Chez Poulet]

Ha ha, well, I didn't stick my nose down there. One couldn't help butt [sic] smell it when trying to push the little outie back in. But yes, is there anything we BYC-ers wouldn't do for our chooks?

Before I checked on her for the last time last night, she has a small outie again, so I gently put it back. She is doing better right now, it seems. She is still interested in food, but had some major runs when I checked in on her this morning. No prolapse. I'm still keeping her quiet and in a dark room and the kennel is covered. There is just enough light so she can see the food and water dish. I hope I can break the egg cycle. I really don't want her to suffer through another painful egg laying session.

 

[Chez Poulet]

Update: Tina laid an egg a few minutes ago, but it was more normal sized and she didn't have any prolapsed parts coming out. She seems to have passed it without a problem. I will still keep her inside until I know she going to be fine in another day or so.

 

[horsejody]

I hope she recovers well.

 

[jbowyer01]

Poor girl! I hope all goes well and please keep us informed.