Egg bound gen??

Hello, I have a 3 year old Rhode Island Red hen that isn't acting herself. She started acting like this yesterday, she doesn't really want to move or do anything but she will go inside and up onto the perch at night. She kind of just stands there all puffed up with her head down. She has been eggbound before but lucky she made it out just fine. She eats and drinks once inside the coop but it just seems she is getting worse. Yesterday she was walking around (a little slower than usual but still keeping up with everyone) now today she doesn't really walk at all. Her poops are normal,
brown with a bit of white on top. I know most of the time eggbound hens can't pass poo or its watery so that's why I am unsure. We are going to feel her bum to see if she has an egg "stuck" in her. In the picture she doesn't look or appear to be ill in any way but she has been standing there for a hour or two now. We are going to give her a warm bath tand keep her inside and pay close attention to her.

Deegan said:

Hello, I have a 3 year old Rhode Island Red hen that isn't acting herself. She started acting like this yesterday, she doesn't really want to move or do anything but she will go inside and up onto the perch at night. She kind of just stands there all puffed up with her head down. She has been eggbound before but lucky she made it out just fine. She eats and drinks once inside the coop but it just seems she is getting worse. Yesterday she was walking around (a little slower than usual but still keeping up with everyone) now today she doesn't really walk at all. Her poops are normal,
brown with a bit of white on top. I know most of the time eggbound hens can't pass poo or its watery so that's why I am unsure. We are going to feel her bum to see if she has an egg "stuck" in her. In the picture she doesn't look or appear to be ill in any way but she has been standing there for a hour or two now. We are going to give her a warm bath tand keep her inside and pay close attention to her.

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She is probably just feeling bad/sick. I would see if she was egg bound but I would not give her a bath if she does not feel egg bound. You said she was puffed----she might be cold so """I"" would not wet her if she did not need it. How is her weight----real heavy, skin and bones?? If her weight is good and she continues acting this way I would start her on tylan50 for a few days. Good Luck

PD-Riverman said:

She is probably just feeling bad/sick. I would see if she was egg bound but I would not give her a bath if she does not feel egg bound. You said she was puffed----she might be cold so """I"" would not wet her if she did not need it. How is her weight----real heavy, skin and bones?? If her weight is good and she continues acting this way I would start her on tylan50 for a few days. Good Luck

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Well it turned out after closer she got cut on the side most likely by my rooster mating (as that is the only thing I can think of and it is in the general area where his feet would be) and it has gotten infected and it smells rotten. We are cleaning up the infected area right now. Could this be causing her to act this way? The over cut isn't bad but it is infected.

Deegan said:

Well it turned out after closer she got cut on the side most likely by my rooster mating (as that is the only thing I can think of and it is in the general area where his feet would be) and it has gotten infected and it smells rotten. We are cleaning up the infected area right now. Could this be causing her to act this way? The over cut isn't bad but it is infected.

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Sure would, I am sure her ribs are sore. You will have to separate from him---some will suggest saddles before putting her back. I never use the chicken saddles but I would check the rooster---clip the sharp part off his spurs and check his nails. I would clean the spot and spray with Blu-kote that will help it heal and help to keep the flys from blowing it. Good Luck


Check the other hens too!!

PD-Riverman said:

Sure would, I am sure her ribs are sore. You will have to separate from him---some will suggest saddles before putting her back. I never use the chicken saddles but I would check the rooster---clip the sharp part off his spurs and check his nails. I would clean the spot and spray with Blu-kote that will help it heal and help to keep the flys from blowing it. Good Luck


Check the other hens too!!

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Thanks, I did check the other hens and they all seemed fine. We cleaned it up real good and are going to have her seperated for a little while until it heals up. Definitely going to trim the roosters spurs as they are getting pretty long. Thanks again.

Since her wound was infected and smelled bad, I would wash it with betadine or chlorhexidene and spray it off with warm water--a kitchen sprayer will be useful to get any pus off the surface and in the nooks and crannies. Do this for the next 2 days and dry her well. Then coat it with plain neosporin or similar ointment. It's really good that you noticed she wasn't acting normally.

Yeah, I was thinking about doing something like that, otherwise she checked out fine, comb and waddles are nice and red, eyes are clear and colorful and feathers look healthy and she isn't under weight.