Calcium for possible egg bound hen

[pamelajy15]

have a human calcium plus vitamin d absorbable liquid hell capsule, 1200 mg. Can it be safely given to a possible egg bound girl. Cannot get her to a vet until tomorrow.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I'm sorry your hen is egg bound.

To answer you question, I believe vitamin C should be ok being a water soluble vitamin but that is quite a large dose to begin with.

I question the vitamin D...it's not a water soluble vitamin. It will likely be based on cholecalciferol. That is quite a large dose.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholecalciferol

May I ask why you wish to give this to your hen? Calcium is considered useful in cases such as prolapse because it aids in helping with muscle function. I'm not certain about a hen that's egg bound.

 

[chickens really]

@WVduckchick

 

[Eggcessive]

Are you certain that she is egg bound, and not having another problem? Have you checked inside the vent with a finger inserted 1-2 inches for a stuck egg? Egg binding can result from too little calcium or dehydration. Giving her calcium with vitamin D once is fine. Many people use Tums as well. Crushed egg shells in a blender with a little yogurt is another way to give calcium. Here is some reading about egg binding:
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/egg-binding-symptoms-prevention-and-treatment/
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms.html

 

[chickens really]

@casportpony

 

[alexa009]

There is another way how to treat an egg bound hen. Put her in warm water in a tub, bin, bucket, etc. Put epsom salts in the warm water and rub it on her abdomen for 20-30 minutes. It may not work because she may not be egg-bound. An egg-bound hen will walk funny. It also won't walk much and will look pretty much sick just kind of staying in one place kind of. Check her vent and see and feel if there may be any stuck egg that may be in side of her. If your hen is older then it could have heart problems because of old age. Hope this helps!

 

[casportpony]

have a human calcium plus vitamin d absorbable liquid hell capsule, 1200 mg. Can it be safely given to a possible egg bound girl. Cannot get her to a vet until tomorrow.

1200 mg is way too much. Five pound hen should get ~225 mg.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I'm sorry your hen is egg bound.

To answer you question, I believe vitamin C should be ok being a water soluble vitamin but that is quite a large dose to begin with.

I question the vitamin D...it's not a water soluble vitamin. It will likely be based on cholecalciferol. That is quite a large dose.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholecalciferol

May I ask why you wish to give this to your hen? Calcium is considered useful in cases such as prolapse because it aids in helping with muscle function. I'm not certain about a hen that's egg bound.

I didn't realize that it could be the result of a softer shelled egg. I understand the use of calcium in regards to ailment now.

@pamelajy15 How is your hen? Did you get to see a vet?

 

[pamelajy15]

I ended up giving her about 100 mg of the calcium as close as I could guess from a 1200mg gelcap and soaked her in awa bath. She seemed a little better. Pushed Gatorade every couple hours. She did pass some pooh. Still lethargic. Sitting still. No appetite. I could not feel any egg blockage. She went to the vet today for bloodworm and X-rays. She has no egg binding but X-rays showed two small screws in her gizzard. She's coming home tonight with subcu fluids to give while vets talk over what the next move is. Anyone have any experience with this issue?

I didn't realize that it could be the result of a softer shelled egg. I understand the use of calcium in regards to ailment now.

@pamelajy15 How is your hen? Did you get to see a vet?

I didn't realize that it could be the result of a softer shelled egg. I understand the use of calcium in regards to ailment now.

@pamelajy15 How is your hen? Did you get to see a vet?

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I'm sorry to hear about your hen. It's called hardware disease. I have no experience with this in chickens, only familiar with it in cattle. An oblong magnet is put down the cow's throat to pick up the hardware and hopefully pass through. Some times it works. Sometimes it doesn't.

Perhaps someone on here has had this experience and can chime in. I hope the vet's can devise a course of action.