PROLAPSE IN LAYERS: EGG BOUND:PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

Egg bound in hen

Blood stained egg

Egg bound in hens occurs if the hen is laying eggs prematurely, before her body is fully developed and can lead to a serious condition known as prolapse. There maybe blood stained egg,unable to invert the cloaca etc.
PROLAPSE in poultry is a condition whereby the oviduct (uterus) comes out during laying and does no invert back. It is also referred to as Blow out, cloacal prolapse or pick out.
 Prolapse is a very serious condition that can be treated if caught early, but is likely to recur.

Prolapsed cloacae

Unable to invert cloacae

CAUSES  OF PROLAPSE:                       
1.Obesed older chicken
2. Birds laying when too young
3.Improper photo stimulation
4.Unbalanced diet like calcium deficient diet
5.Infections (E.coli, Salmonellosis,Klebsailla)
6.Mycotoxicosis
7.Endoparasites (worms)
8. Coccidiosis
9.Ectoparasites
10.Overcrowding can lead to pecking

PREDISPOSING FACTORS OF PROLAPSE
First indication of prolapse is presence of blood stained egg and or double yolked lay of more than 4% in older laying flock. Prolapse can affect young  and old layers.

Read: VACCINE FAILURE: CAUSES AND PREVENTION

SYMPTOMS
1. Birds are overweight or under weght
2. Protruded oviduct after laying
3. Cannibalism
 4. Increase noise in the flock particularly during cannibalism
5. Usually blood stained eggs
6.  Increased mortality.
7. Intermittent of persistent of protruding vent
8. Droppings streaked with blood
9. Excessively Picking at vent region
10. Soiled feathers around the vent (pasty butt)
11. Foul odor

Read: HOW TO PREVENT SUDDEN DROP IN EGG PRODUCTION IN YOUR LAYERS

PREVENTION OF PROLASE
1. Adhere to strict biosecurity on the farm

2.Monitor the growth of pullets particularly to attain the standard weight from  week 5 to week 8

3.Ensure normal light  intensity during the growing phase.

4. Commence photo stimulation  when the birds  reach 1.25 - 1.3kg irrespective of age.

5. Give more calcium in the feed of layers at peak production (2.5 - 3.5%).

6. Ensure good management practice to ward off infection

7. Ensure that any young hens who aren’t ready to lay eggs are not exposed to artificial light. This can cause the hens to start laying eggs before they are physically meant to.

Read: HOW TO ELIMINATE ODOR IN PIG FARM

TREATMENT OF PROLAPSE
1. Isolate affected bird from the flock
2. Clean protruding tissue with veterycyn
3. Replace tissue manually and spray veterycyn 2 to 3times per day
4. Apply anti-inflammatory cream like hydrocortisone
5. Reduce the feed intake by 5-10% if the birds are overweight.

6. Adjust the metabolizable energy(ME) of the feed to the minimum requirement.

7. Adjust the light exposure time of the birds reducing it to 12h for 1to 2weeks before gradually increasing it 1 hr per week til the max 16h.

8. Light intensity should be reduced. In some cases, red bulb light are used to reduce cannibalism.

9. Apply liver tonics such as SUPERLIV to aid in liver metabolic function.

10. Choline chloride is useful too for fat depletion.

11. Use broad spectrum antibiotics in cases of infection.

Note:
Always consult your Animal health professional for assistance.

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