SOS VENT PROLAPSE

[lmw411]

My hen's vent has prolapsed. It looks disgusting, bright cherry red hanging out. I soaked her, applied honey and vaseline and tried to put it back in. It will not stay in. She pushes it out and it gets about as big as a fist inflated, makes two terrible clucks when doing it. It breaks my heart seeing this. Do I cull? I've pushed it in a dozen times and it will not stay in.

I'm so upset because we recently changed food as recommended by a friend (from Dumor to Purina layer pellets) and I read this could be caused by lack of calcium. She does not lay big eggs at all, she has only been laying for maybe a month. What do I do?

EDIT: She laid her egg this morning, it has blood on it. So there shouldn't be an egg in there now.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you post a picture of the prolapse? The main thing while the prolapse tissue is out, is to keep it moist at all times. Honey is good to help reduce the swelling. I would give it some time. They come out a lot at first, and may stay in by tonight or tomorrow. I would try giving her some calcium—human Caltrate or the generic calcium tablet or a Tums.

Is she overweight? Overlarge eggs, being fat, low calcium levels, too much light, or a poor diet can be linked to a prolapse. To stop her from laying temporarily to let her vent heal some, you can place her in a dark cage or room for 16 hours a day overnight, and let her out for 8 hours a day to eat, drink, and walk around. Keep her separated from the flock while she has the red tissue hanging out.

If her intestines should come out, then she will need to be culled, but that does not happen often. If the red prolapse tissue dries out, it will become black and dead. So whatever type of lubricant you can apply is good. Many people use hydrocortisone cream, hemorrhoid cream, or sugar and water made into syrup, as well as vegetable oil, vaseline, or others. The honey is good.

 

[azygous]

Some would recommend culling such a layer since having these problems so young isn't a good sign that the will "just get over it". However, if you've become attached to her, it's worth treating to see if you can get her healed up and past this.

Since there is blood involved, then there's likely inflammation of the oviduct from it. An antibiotic is necessary to avoid this turning into an infection that will prevent her from laying normally. A good antibiotic is amoxicillin 250mg for seven to ten days.

Extra calcium can often assist a new layer in getting past these problems. 400mg once a day for a week is probably enough.

As for the prolapse, soaking in warm Epsom salt will help relax and reduce the tissue inflammation. Then smooth on some cortisone cream or Prep H cream. Now that the egg is out, the prolapse should remain in after a day or so of pushing it back in.

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that she is pooping, and if the vent looks like it is bulging, I would insert a finger an inch or so to check for a stuck egg. Keep her vent clean, and soak her in warm soapy water if needed to keep it clean until it stays inside. Here is some reading about prolapses:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry you face this.

You can try a sling to hold it in longer and set it in place. Also place her in a darkened space to reduce the production of eggs, as the hormone is light sensitive. Maybe if she can go a day without laying with the sling on...

Honestly... I cull for it as I consider it genetic and likely to happen again. I also don't want a poor hen to suffer curiosity peck from flock mates leading to cannibalism, though separation could prevent that.. But I know some others have had luck with no repeat.

If the egg shells are hard, calcium isn't the issue. While I prefer Purina (flock raiser with oyster shell on the side, not layer) over Dumor, truth is they are both owned by Purina AND they both meet the dietary guidelines required by law.

A vet may be able to stitch it back in place for you.. if you can afford to go that route. Most cannot.

I see others posted while I was typing... how old is she, what breed?

 

[lmw411]

I tried holding it in for several minutes and that seemed to cause pain. She strains to push it out against me, is that odd? She basically just relaxes when I'm not messing with her. She was free ranging fine. This must have happened this morning and randomly. The poor thing is the sweetest. She is not pooping. Lots of poop around the area indicated she did some. Lots of clear liquid coming out as she strains. And it smells gross. She is lucky I am in health care and am used to this stuff!

I'm so discouraged. We've had chickens for not even a year and lost three (one to a hawk, one to an injury, one to old age). Does anyone else have issues this often with their flocks? Maybe I'm sensitive because we keep it so small and it's much more personal.

 

[lmw411]

Sorry you face this.

You can try a sling to hold it in longer and set it in place. Also place her in a darkened space to reduce the production of eggs, as the hormone is light sensitive. Maybe if she can go a day without laying with the sling on...

Honestly... I cull for it as I consider it genetic and likely to happen again. I also don't want a poor hen to suffer curiosity peck from flock mates leading to cannibalism, though separation could prevent that.. But I know some others have had luck with no repeat.

If the egg shells are hard, calcium isn't the issue. While I prefer Purina (flock raiser with oyster shell on the side, not layer) over Dumor, truth is they are both owned by Purina AND they both meet the dietary guidelines required by law.

A vet may be able to stitch it back in place for you.. if you can afford to go that route. Most cannot.

I see others posted while I was typing... how old is she, what breed?

She is probably around 7-8 months old I would think she she hasn't been laying very long. I looked into the slings but I'm not sure how effective it would be since she is adamant about pushing out. I can't figure out why she is not liking pushing it back in. She is a mixed breed. Americana I'm guessing because she lays green eggs. She is buff in color with the cutest poof on her head!

 

[lmw411]

Can you post a picture of the prolapse? The main thing while the prolapse tissue is out, is to keep it moist at all times. Honey is good to help reduce the swelling. I would give it some time. They come out a lot at first, and may stay in by tonight or tomorrow. I would try giving her some calcium—human Caltrate or the generic calcium tablet or a Tums.

Is she overweight? Overlarge eggs, being fat, low calcium levels, too much light, or a poor diet can be linked to a prolapse. To stop her from laying temporarily to let her vent heal some, you can place her in a dark cage or room for 16 hours a day overnight, and let her out for 8 hours a day to eat, drink, and walk around. Keep her separated from the flock while she has the red tissue hanging out.

If her intestines should come out, then she will need to be culled, but that does not happen often. If the red prolapse tissue dries out, it will become black and dead. So whatever type of lubricant you can apply is good. Many people use hydrocortisone cream, hemorrhoid cream, or sugar and water made into syrup, as well as vegetable oil, vaseline, or others. The honey is good.

She normally lays around 9-10 am. So it has been a while since she laid. She isn't overweight. I'm wondering if daylight savings time could have caused this then?

 

[azygous]

Chickens are like farmers (used to be, many still are) and get up and go to sleep with the sun. Daylight saving is something they'd find as ridiculous as many of us humans if they understood why we do it. (all frivolous economic reasons foisted on the many for the benefit of the few)

There is a chance, and I have a young hen with this particular problem, she could be over-ovulating producing two yolks consecutively within a short period of time. (not the same as double yolks) Calcium seems to solve this problem over a period of a week to three or four weeks. It seems to regulate the ovulation and get it back to the 25 hour ovulating schedule of most layers.

The extra calcium can also insure a soft egg doesn't get stuck, which actually could be why she's still straining. Any hen with any sort of laying issue can benefit from short term calcium supplement. The alternative, not treating it, can result in some extreme reproductive issues. It's better to stay ahead of those if you can. Short term calcium is not going to hurt her.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

She normally lays around 9-10 am. So it has been a while since she laid. She isn't overweight. I'm wondering if daylight savings time could have caused this then?

Hens don't care what the clock or government say.

I'm so discouraged. We've had chickens for not even a year and lost three (one to a hawk, one to an injury, one to old age). Does anyone else have issues this often with their flocks? Maybe I'm sensitive because we keep it so small and it's much more personal.

Hang in there.

Many of us do face our share of issues... including scalping by raccoons, mauling by our OWN dogs, loosing whole flocks to neighbors dog, and many other tragic or disgusting events. And unfortunately it seems as though when it rains it pours.

Last year 1 of my hens lost 3 chicks in a row... to the hawk that is constantly watching . But she seemed to just move on. It was heartbreaking when I confiscated the last ones and hearing them look for each other.

Sometimes even though we do everything right... this stuff happens. But it should not be this hard always.

Yes, keeping it smaller I think may cause "more" emotion. I am able to deal with (or accept) ALL aspects of the circle of life much easier since I have taken a life myself for food. It doesn't make it hurt less though, I just have more tools in box. And I am most thankful that I will have the skill needed when a hen I really care about faces accident or illness that seriously effects their quality of life. Having a first cull is always hard... that much harder on the heart when it's a friend (the hen) who needs our help.

For you... and her age... I would try the sling. She no doubt feels as though something isn't right while you're holding it in.. maybe she thinks she has to poo. As far as I can tell... and I'm sorry... I think it's the sling or her life. Maybe once you get it on and get her settled into darkness she will calm down and relax. And hopefully being a colored layer she can have a day in the middle since she just laid.

Is the vet an option for you? Either to help the issue or maybe euthanasia if you feel that is the needed route?

Sorry I can't be more help. Chicken chick as linked by the other poster has been so helpful.