Eggbound hen - am I crazy to pay a vet $150?

Pay the money.  You will regret it if you don't.  She is counting on you (IMHO!)  Very very good luck to you, the hen, and the vet.

If that makes you crazy, then I must be bonkers, too. We paid over $100 last fall for veterinary care for a rooster that we knew we probably weren't going to be able to keep because of our local ordinance. And, sure enough, a neighbor complained this spring and we had to rehome him.

I don't regret it. though.

This is a terrible decision to have to make and crazy doesn't apply - don't beat yourself up.  The very fact that you're considering it means you're a decent human being and you care for your animals.  The answer is:  if you can afford to pay the vet and not suffer in any other means (financially I mean) AND if it will make you feel better, that you've tried everything regardless of the outcome, then do it.  If you can't afford it without cutting something else that's important, then don't.  But if you can do it, and if the vet is able to help your hen, you'll have saved your favorite bird; if not successful you'll at least have the peace of mind in knowing that you tried your best, and you did what was right for your hen.  If you can't do it, just keep an eye on her and if it looks necessary do her the favor of giving her a quick ending, whether you do it yourself or have a vet do it.  Either way you're being the best custodian she could have, and while it's a difficult role to play, it's part of owning animals of any type responsibly.  Best wishes to you and I really hope she gets past this.

Have you tried holding the hen in warm water for approx. 30 min, making sure her vent is submerged. A lot of the time this will do it by itself. Petroleum jelly, or ky can also be rubbed around the cloaca to help the egg pass. Attempting to break the egg is a bad idea if you can't see it.

Good Luck

No, you're not crazy. I wouldn't do it, but my chooks are somewhere in between livestock and pets and there is no budget for vet visits for the chickens. If it was one of mine I would treat as best I could at home and if it was not effective and she was suffering with little chance of getting better I would cull her.

If you can spend the money on the vet and would feel better going that route then you should do it. If you decide not to either because of financial considerations or because even with the vet the prognosis is not good and you don't want to put either of you thru that then you should cull. Either way you will make the decision that is best for your situation and it will be the right one.

I answered your post about this on the egg laying forum and glad to find this update!  And it is absolutely 100% NOT crazy to spend money on a pet in need.  I'm so glad you're taking her to a vet, she needs help ASAP.  I was in your situation and that's exactly what I did.  I know not everyone feels like I do about their chickens, and I respect that.  But for me, there's no way an animal of mine will be allowed to die if there's anything I can do to try and save it.  Yes the vet is a last resort, for financial and other reasons, namely sedation.  I do not like my chickens being sedated, but if I know they'll die without treatment, I'll allow it if there is no other option. 

I know how that feels, and I'm sorry you're having to go through this.  You've tried everything you could do yourself, the vet is your only next step if you want to try and save her.  But no matter what happens with the vet, you'll know you did right by your sweet hen by trying to save her life.  And hey, don't give up on her, she could come out of this just fine!  I think you're doing the right thing.  And please post back to let us know how it goes.

If you have the money and you want to do it, that is great!

If it were my family we wouldnt have the money and it would make me sick to watch.  As a chicken parent you do what you want to do.