Emergency! Constipated/Eggbound Hen? Please Help! Pics!

[TwinsLoveChicks]

This morning when I went out to check on the chickens, I found one of my hens, Black-Eyed Susan, apparently not feeling very good. She is puffed up and standing with her back end hanging down. She also has a pretty serious poop butt and her comb is purple and flopped over way more than usual. She is still interested in food and water especially, and is drinking plenty. I washed off some of her poop butt and there is nothing blocking her vent, and I felt around and compared it to one of my other hens and it doesn't really feel like there is an egg in there. Also, I found her in a box in a position almost like she was about to lay an egg but nothing was happening. Her feet are way paler than usual and she's tapping her feet every once and a while, almost as if she's getting bitten by fire ants but she's not. Based on that and the fact that her comb is purple-ish, do you think that her circulation is being cut off somehow? Other than seeming super sleepy, she still seems pretty alert. She was one of my first hens and so is very special to me. She is about four years old. Here are some pictures.












Let me know if you need better pictures. PLEASE ANSWER SOON!!

Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes she is alert!
And she pooped quite a few times through the night!
Should I put here back with her flock


Well last night was long! She was quite and calm. Around 4am she started pooping and did quite a bit till about 8am. At that she she seemed to be herself so I put her back outside. She was great all day eating, playing, running around and it was 100 degrees here today. But tonight when I went to lock down the coop she was doing the same thing as last night. Squatting down with some feathers out and not herself! I have no Idea what is going on with her???

That is a bit odd. Is she squatting for you as you approach or are you finding her in the squatting position?

It's hard to know what to do for her since her daytime activities seem normal, even for hot weather.

Can you go out early or can you watch them starting about an hour before roosting and just observe the flock's behavior? A couple of things come to mind, she may be getting hormonal and is confused by playing broody or she is possibly waiting for the rooster?

If you can get this on video, I would like to see it... something I've never seen before.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She was completely fine all day and now she is doing to same thing. I tried to upload a video but it won't let me I will try a shorter one.

For video you need to upload to youtube or similar platform then provide us a link.

In the meantime, check her crop first thing in the morning, it should be empty. The only thing I can think of that may be going on is she's 22weeks(?) she may be coming into lay and her hormones may be out of whack a little.

What do you feed your flock? Do they have oyster available free choice?

Just brainstorming, but hopefully the video will shed some light on the situation.

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

Hi! Thank you for answering! No, there is no blood in her poop, but then I haven't seen her poop anytime lately. I was thinking eggbound too, but I felt around and on either side of her vent but I didn't feel anything hard like an egg. I also compared that feeling to another healthy hen that is her same age and it felt the same. As for Coccidiosis I don't know anything about it.

Thanks again!

 

[MotherhenXOXO]

Thank you! Her name is Black-Eyed Susan and her nickname is Black-Eyes.

That's a very cute name.Ours always seem to get nicknames too!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was just reading this because something is not right with my girl. What happened to Black Eyed Susan?
My little lady is a 22 weeks old Buff orpington and has not laid yet. Well tonight when I went to close the coop I saw that she wasn't on the roost. She was squatting down like she was laying an egg but no egg. She would walk around a little but then right back to squatting. I did some searching and thought she may have an egg stuck. ( I am a first time chicken owner. I thought I had 12 girls ended up with 9 and 3 boys. Just got rid of the RIR because he was aggressive and mating a lot with non laying hen. Now I have 2 soon to be 1 white Cochin rooster. So to say the least I am a rookie but I do as much ready and asking questions as i can!) And the only way to know for sure is to put on a glove with some lubricant and go about 2 inches. Well I did that and didnt feel an egg. Not sure what to do but I brought her in the house in a box with straw food and water and placed her in a dark cool place. ANY help would be appreciated!!!

Is she alert?
Is she able to poop?

It does sound like she might be trying to lay an egg, with pullets, it can take a while, so give her some time, keep her calm.
I would see that she is hydrated, you can offer her some extra calcium and poultry vitamins, but hydration and patience are usually the best things.

Hopefully she will lay her egg by morning. What do you feed your flock? Do they have oyster shell available?

 

[Tslauson]

Is she alert?
Is she able to poop?

It does sound like she might be trying to lay an egg, with pullets, it can take a while, so give her some time, keep her calm.
I would see that she is hydrated, you can offer her some extra calcium and poultry vitamins, but hydration and patience are usually the best things.

Hopefully she will lay her egg by morning. What do you feed your flock? Do they have oyster shell available?

Yes she is alert!
And she pooped quite a few times through the night!
Should I put here back with her flock

Is she alert?
Is she able to poop?

It does sound like she might be trying to lay an egg, with pullets, it can take a while, so give her some time, keep her calm.
I would see that she is hydrated, you can offer her some extra calcium and poultry vitamins, but hydration and patience are usually the best things.

Hopefully she will lay her egg by morning. What do you feed your flock? Do they have oyster shell available?

Well last night was long! She was quite and calm. Around 4am she started pooping and did quite a bit till about 8am. At that she she seemed to be herself so I put her back outside. She was great all day eating, playing, running around and it was 100 degrees here today. But tonight when I went to lock down the coop she was doing the same thing as last night. Squatting down with some feathers out and not herself! I have no Idea what is going on with her???

 

[micstrachan]

If she’s pooping, she’s probably not egg bound. Sounds like she felt better after pooping. What is the poop consistency like? Is she eating sonething fibrous, like feathers? If she’s backed up, you can give her little chunks of frozen coconut oil to loosen tho gs up.

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

Anyone? Please!

 

[MyTMo]

HI. I am no expert but here it goes. Do you see any blood in her poo? Does her poo look healthy? Coccidiosis? Or She could be egg bound? You can give her a warm water & Epsom salt bath and calcium for egg bound. Make sure to keep her inside and blow dry her if you bathe her. You can search for directions on Epsom bathing. Sorry, I can't be of more help. Good luck!