Anyone know whats wrong?

[lurky]

I have a Hen that i noticed was walking funny. After examining her i found her bottom is huge and hard and its so big its pushing out into her legs making it hard to walk.
She is pooping so i am thinking she might be eggbound, but i have never experienced this with my flock before so i was not sure. I dont know what to do, or what to expect so if anyone has any input i would
appreciate it. We felt around and did not actually feel an egg, it was all just so big and solid. I had thought i noticed her walking funny a couple days ago but was thinking it was just because it was muddy from all the rain we had.
Now i am afraid whatever is wrong has gone on too long. She acts ok, just annoyed by the difficulty walking. If she was eggbound, wouldnt she not be able to poop?

I hope someone knows what this is

 

[KKatknap]

I would start with giving her a nice warm bath and a blow dry. They actually like this (so I'm told), and it helps them relax. If she IS eggbound, that might help her pass the egg. There are other things it could be, but a bath is a good place to start while you wait for more advice.

 

[Chickielady]

wow, I have never had an egg bound hen, but just this morning my favorite Cuckoo Maran Cathy was limping, and now you have me worried that she has a hard bottom, too !
Someone help here !

 

[KKatknap]

There are some really good posts on this...let me look and I'll post a link or two.

 

[lurky]

Quote:
Thank you..... i hope you are able to find something

 

[KKatknap]

Well...a search ends up with a whole lot to read. And the good ones I can remember weren't in the first few pages. I will keep looking.

I will tell you what I would do, having read several threads on it in the past. I don't have any experience with this, yet, but I have read up on it.

First, a nice long warm (but not too hot) bath. Seriously, they say the chickens love this. It helps the muscles relax. Sometimes the bath alone does the trick. I've read a couple of times it should be @ 30 minutes. Then, after the bath, because wet and cold is bad...you blow dry them. Also apparently enjoyable. Some people say to rub some lubricant on the vent area and just slightly inside.

Some people have suggested crushed tums. Haven't fully researched that part, but some of the threads suggest it.

Be very careful not to do anything that might cause the egg to break inside her. This can cause a different situation...usually more serious...called egg yolk peritonitis. Some people confuse the two, but they are different.

Hopefully this will give you somewhere to go on this, and give your thread a bump so someone with actual experience can help.


ETA...ok. Score. Here's a link with other links in it (posts #4 & #7). Some good stuff. Anything that the person called "threehorses" says is all good.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2617017

I personally would not try to puncture the egg and pull it out in pieces. That is suggested by some in several threads, but like I say...it can cause EYP, and you don't want that. Try the other stuff first.

Good luck!!!

 

[lurky]

Thank you very much......... I will try to help her today, poor girl

 

[lurky]

Well, we soaked her good.........dont feel any eggs, but it might be because she is so bloated

I wish there was more we could do for her.
Her belly is VERY bloated. Can anyone tell me what will happen now?

 

[The Sheriff]

If her abdomen is hard and swollen she may have Egg Yolk Peritonitis. The distention of the belly can be due to fluid buildup. I have a hen under the care of a vet right now for it. She is on Baytril and Metacam. I did all the things suggested for an egg bound hen but when that didn't work I took her in. An xray ruled out egg binding. She was very skinny and sick. (The fluid in the abdomen robs the body of protein.) The vet diagnosed Egg Yolk peritonitis. After two weeks of treatment her abdomen is just now becoming a tiny bit softer. Two days after beginning treatment she actually passed two old rotten yolks. We still do not know if she will survive. It is a long process of the body walling off or absorbing the mess inside them.

Good luck with your girl.

Mary

 

[lurky]

Quote:
Thank you for telling me about this. I would think it might be the same. She is still alive, so i could look into treating her for this. Its better than doing nothing.
and i think your probably right on.