Prolapse and bantams

[Stonerowfarm]

I have had two bantams prolapse real bad. One was a silkie and the other, just two days ago was a frizzle. Since I have never had this happen with the larger birds, I wondered if this was a problem with the bantams, that they are prone to prolapse or if it's just bad luck.

Also the frizzle was in the middle of moult, so I'm a little confused about why she prolapsed. Just wondered if anyone knows why this happens and if there is a way to prevent it from happening again. Any info is appreciated. I would hate to think I'm doing something wrong and that this could be prevented in the future.

 

[Imp]

First hit with Google comes up with this:

http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/livestock/poultry/prolapse.html

Looks very informative to me.

Good luck,

Imp

 

[rancher hicks]

I had this happen to a young hen just over a year old. I noticed blood on and egg but didnt' think to look for the donor. It was cold and nasty out. By the time I noticed her it had caked over and she got an infection. She was walking around like everything was fine but I notice her butt. Unfortunately treatment would have been too extensive, so I had to put her down. At the time she was really sick.
I've decided the best time to check the flock is at night. Chickens are calmer in the dark and easier to pick off the roost. When it's warmer out you can just sit and watch them and look for problems, in the winter it's not easy. Night is the best time to tame them down too. You can pet them while they roost and talk to them. I tried singing but they get upset and faint alot.

 

[Stonerowfarm]

Quote:
This was so incredibly helpful......thank you very much.

After reading this, tonight I was closing everyone up for the evening. I have one of the frizzles who was singing her 'egg song' which then turned into a squawk. I heard another squawk and went into the coop. Sure enough she was in the corner, having just laid an egg, and there was what looked like a tiny prolapse. The squawk was another hen pecking her on the head while she 'recovered." Sure enough after a minute or so, everything was back where it should be and she was off pecking at her food.

I never realized that when they lay an egg there is a slight prolapsing of the oviduct which then goes back into place.

Thanks again.

 

[gilroygal]

Not sure, but my favorite bantam had a really bad case of prolapse. Please don't give up...I ended up saving her. It was hanging out, was really dark red and it looked like it may be infected. I had no idea what to do. So I guessed....I confined her to a small cage in a isolated area and kept her warm. I kept her bottom clean by placing her in a bucket of warm water with a few drops of baby shampoo to clean off the goop from her poops every morning and night (2x's per day). After she was cleaned, I smeared triple antibiotic gel on her bottom and placed her in a quiet location. I also kept a small heater on for her at night because I was afraid she would be cold after being wet from the bath. I gave her plenty of food (chopped dandelion greens/chopped grapes/shelled sunflower seeds/chick food w/antibiotics). She ate everything and never acted once like she was in pain. So I figured if she could deal with it, so could I. I also got some antibiotic to add to her water from the feedstore.

Every 3 to 4 days, she would lay an egg. The first time the egg wouldn't come out and was stuck in her for half a day. So I slathered on the triple anitibotic gel around the bound egg, placed her in a bucket of warm water and gently pushed on the top of the sack to push out the egg. Needless to say she felt better. This went on for about 3 weeks. Gradually the color started to turn back to a normal pink color and soon after it poped back in by itself. That was about 2 years ago and she has been fine every since... and back to her old sweet self. No more issues