The main causes of prolapse are the following:
• Improper body weight and frame development: underweight pullets at point of lay, before the reproductive tract is completely mature and oviduct muscles have developed elasticity and strength. Pullets with excess fat are also more prone to prolapse since fat excess contributes to lower elasticity and tone of the tissues involved in egg laying.
• Lighting program: too early light stimulation, before complete development, or giving excessively large light increments, leading to an increased incidence of double yolks.
• Any condition encouraging pecking behaviour : high light intensity, unbalanced feed, poor quality beak trimming, enteritis… increasing the chances of physical damage to oviduct tissues. Laying Period Bird Behaviour 25 ISA - Alternative management guide ISA - Alternative management guide To control prolapse we advise:
• Making sure the flock is uniform during rearing
• Ensuring body weight is on target by getting a steady growth since early age
• Avoiding excess weight (i.e. fattening) during rearing
• Avoiding any sudden increase in light period
• Applying a proper lighting program to compensate natural light and avoiding unwanted early light simulation