Prolapse

[sankeyst]

1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Leghorn who is 2 years she's the same weight as the other... not sure. Her name is Martina see our profile pic )

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
She's moving around fine. I noticed yesterday that her bum was covered in poo. This morning my housemates and I cleaned it and noticed she had a prolapse. The prolapse had some white stuff on it… looked like calcium. We cut feathers and cleaned the poo and white stuff as much as we could. Then the prolapse went back inside… then popped out again… anyway we read somewhere to restrict her food for a day to give her a rest from laying so we are doing that.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Only noticed poo on her bum yesterday.

4) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No injury as far as we can see. She does get picked on by our older Buff Sussex, called Sister. Sister is broody at the moment so isn’t causing much trouble and Martina is pretty fast so she doesn’t really get injured and get the food she needs.

5) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation?
One of our chooks is producing lumpy eggs… this might be her but we can’t be sure.


6) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
She’s been eating fine and drinking but I’ll be able to keep a better eye on her drinking today. We are restricting food today to give her a rest from laying. What supplements would people recommend as if she’s deficient and day without food might cause more issues?

7) How does the poop look? Normal? Blody? Runny? etc.
Poo looks normal except it’s sticking to her bum feathers. Maybe it’s runny but I’d need to check…

8) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
- cleaning her bum
- Restricting food today


9 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
We’d prefer ourselves if we can but vet if required.

10) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I have pictures but they are pretty gross looking???? do you really want me to post that?

11) Describe the housing/bedding in use
they have a metal coop, with straw and we did use the hemp bedding a few months ago, but have gone back to straw. They have an extended run which is slightly smaller than usual as we are getting renovations done by the landlords.

 

[micstrachan]

Yes, let’s see the pics; it will help and we’ve all seen plenty of gross. Let’s wait for others to chime in, but I think epsom salt soaks might help. I’ve also heard hemorrhoid cream may help in these situations. Lots of experience on these forums with prolapse, so please hang tight!

 

[sankeyst]

we got it a bit more clean after this... but didn't take photos... some of the white stuff came off the prolapse but not all of it.

 

[micstrachan]

Ouch, poor girl. I notice that it is swollen all around her vent and even her abdomen looks pink. Her eggs have been normal except for possible some recent lumpy ones? Wondering if this could be from salpingitis, but still have normal eggs. Has she layed/pooped any chunks of stuff that almost look like tissue?
@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous

 

[azygous]

I'm assuming you've separated this hen from the rest of the flock. It's crucial she be kept away from the others so they don't make the condition much worse by pecking at it, which can kill her.

Epsom salt soaks and Preparation H or hydrocortisone cream to help shrink the tissue and help it retract. You can very gently guide the tissue back inside where it belongs. She needs to be kept quiet with rest so the prolapsed tissue can return to normal.

Give vitamins, including calcium and electrolytes and hold off on solid food for 24 hours.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@azygous has given you some good advice.

I will only add that, sometimes a prolapse may not stay in due to swelling. If it won't stay, then let her rest, but keep the tissue moist with PrepH, you don't want that to dry up and die.
Encourage her to drink, dehydration can make things worse.

 

[Drother]

 

[rebrascora]

One of our chooks is producing lumpy eggs

What do you mean by "lumpy eggs" Do you know what lash eggs are? If not, these are lumpy rubbery masses usually the size of an egg and look a bit like layers of cooked egg inside..... just wondering if your girl might have salpingitis and be straining to lay more of these lash egg masses. That would explain the swelling around the vent.
A good 15 min soak in a warm epsom salts bath may help to clean off more of the soiling. It is a good idea to gently insert a gloved lubed finger and ensure there is no build up of poop (urates) or a stuck egg inside the vent.

The only other thing I would add to the advice already given is to ensure flies don't get to it and lay eggs in it or the maggots will eat her alive from the inside out. It might be a good idea to keep her in a dark box in the house for a few days and just let her out for an hour twice a day to eat and drink. That way you can hopefully prevent flies from getting to her, monitor food and drink and keep her clean and "moisturised" back there until you can get it to stay inside her. You may need to gently push it back in once you get it completely clean and hold your finger inside her for 10-15 minutes until she stops trying to push it out again, then remove your finger and place her in the box.... ensure she has plenty of ventilation and clean bedding in the box. Darkness will help her keep calm.

Good luck with her

Barbara