Sick hen, swollen abdomen/vent area...HELP!!!l

[mamaboyd]

I have a year old hen who is looking like she may be egg bound?? She's weak, had crusted poop all over back end and her abdomen and vent area are really swollen.. I soaked her in some luke warm water and she drank some sugar water, but when she goes to sit, she goes on her side a bit. Yesterday I think she was trying to lay an egg, but nothing so far and she's been sitting in one spot for most of the day. I decided to bring her in the house to try and wash her bum off and give her a soak. Anybody have any other ideas??

Thanks!

Trish

 

[SpottedCrow]

That DOES sound like she's eggbound or trying to lay a softshelled egg...
You could try and get it out...lube up your finger and try and reach it.

 

[mamaboyd]

I just squirted some mineral oil into her vent to see if that will help. She seems to be breathing a bit more harder, but she did try to jump out of the box I have her in. Poor girl went over to her side again, hopefully she didn't damage a wing in the process.

Thanks spottedcrow! I will try to see if I can reach it. Oh boy, she's not going to like me!!

 

[bionic_chicken]

According to my chicken book, you should definitely lube a finger and feel around to try to get it out. It says if you can feel it, keep your finger in and try to guide the egg out while applying gently pressure to the lower abdomen. If that doesn't work, puncture the egg with a pin (careful!) and take the egg out in pieces, being careful to not cut the vent with shell shards. Good luck! She needs you right now!

 

[mamaboyd]

Well, I stuck my finger in and didn't feel any egg.

All she did was pee on me. I don't know what else to do.

 

[bionic_chicken]

Oh no! Hopefully someone more knowledgable will get on and help. Good luck to you and your girl!

 

[ruth]

I'm watching this thread to see if anyone else has any other suggestions also. I have a hen with the same symptoms. Today I soaked her in a warm bath and put her in her own hutch. She sat on edge of nest box all day today and lower area is really swollen. She did the same thing yesterday but laid an egg last night after I massaged her. It didn't work today nor did the bath and she too seems to be in distress.

 

[mamaboyd]

Well, I don't really know if "Goldie" is going to make it through the night.

I gave her another warm soak and she seemed pretty relaxed in it, I hated to bring her out of it. I than dried her off with the hair dryer which she also didn't seem to mind. Her back end is still really swollen and red. She did manage to eat a tiny bit of yogurt and some more sugar water and a few bits of layer crumbles/scratch. At least she doesn't smell of poop anymore and is nice and shiny clean. She's cuddled up in a box with towels in my bathroom with the doors closed so my dog and cats can't get at her. I have classical music playing on the radio really low to comfort her. I honestly don't know what else to do but pray that she will make it through the night. She sat on my lap for a bit and snuggled in. I've never had a chicken in the house before except for the 2~ week old ones( her siblings) last year when I tried to nurse them back to health but they didn't make it.

Ruth, I hope your girls gets better soon!! It's the feeling of hopelessness and not knowing what else to do that gets me. I feel I owe it to my girl to help her after all the wonderful eggs she's given me.

 

[dlhunicorn]

you can give her a crushed TUM (this is an emergency substitute the calcium gluconate the vet would normally give in an eggbound situation)... let her sit on a nice warm steamy towel and lubricate with some KYgel...

 

[Nebbo]

Quote:
Tums? Really? I have a "swollen abdomen, listless, poopy butt hen in a cat carrier in my kitchen, too. I've palped her abdomen and I can feel some hard, round masses to either side of her vent. Don't know if that's anatomy or eggs.

I'll get some Tums right away, and also try to lube her up and see what I can help along. I've already bathed in warm water, etc. Poor baby.

Neb
Kingston, WA