Post prolapse injury - hen cannot poop

[LindsandChicks]

Hi, one of my girls Lulu recently suffered a prolapse which I successfully got back in. It did keep popping out over a number of weeks but would go back in on its own. One night I noticed her huddled in the corner of the run after the girls had gone to bed so I took her in the house and realised she had blood around her vent and spatters on her legs so I suspected the other girls had pecked at her if she had prolapsed.

I bathed her and she's been in the house for the past few days but she's not been able to poop. I took her to the vet (who doesn't know much about chickens) she felt inside her vent and suggested there might be scar tissue. She had an antibiotic and anti inflamatory, I desperately want to help Lulu she's very special to me. I bathed her again yesterday and noticed when she strained to poop it looked like there was some poo stuck inside, but it's stuck and when I managed to remove some it made her bleed. I suspect there might be a combination of the prolapse scar tissue and poo but she's not able to pass it. She's still eating but pecks at her vent a lot. Also could the oviduct have twisted? Please help!

 

[azygous]

It's wise to have used a vet for this. She's getting the meds she needs. Hopefully she will be able to heal.

I suggest you give her a probiotic each day for a few weeks. Get it anywhere they sell people vitamins. One tab directly into the beak.

Also, try giving her a teaspoon of coconut oil each morning and again at night. Chill it to hardness so it's easy to push into her beak. This will help grease her intestines and cloaca to make it easier to poop.

Be sure she is getting plenty of fresh water to prevent dehydration.

 

[LindsandChicks]

It's wise to have used a vet for this. She's getting the meds she needs. Hopefully she will be able to heal.

I suggest you give her a probiotic each day for a few weeks. Get it anywhere they sell people vitamins. One tab directly into the beak.

Also, try giving her a teaspoon of coconut oil each morning and again at night. Chill it to hardness so it's easy to push into her beak. This will help grease her intestines and cloaca to make it easier to poop.

Be sure she is getting plenty of fresh water to prevent dehydration.

Thanks Azygous, I have coconut oil so will try that. I guess I'm worried at how long she can go without pooping and what that must be doing inside. And at what point do you decide enough's enough. She's a rescue and has already been through crop surgery. I've really tried my best for her and love her so much but don't want her to suffer.

 

[azygous]

You'll know when to euthanize when she is declining rather than improving. This is the criteria I use.

If the chicken is eating on their own, able to get around, showing some improvement each day, I fight as long as the chicken does.

When the chicken stops eating, sleeping most of the time, showing no improvement, I help the chicken out of their suffering.

 

[LindsandChicks]

Thanks so much for your advice, I will try everything for her xx