Hi, I have a hen (around 3-4 years old, not sure what breed, but a standard brown egg layer (shes not mine - im housesitting and taking care of their chickens), who hasn't been able to stand up. Behaviour wise, she's still relatively vocal and has been drinking and eaeating.
I discovered her around 4:30/5pm yesterday, and felt an egg high in her abdomen, so I thought she was egg bound. I gave her an epsom salt bath three times and lubed her vent in the hopes that she would lay by herself but it is 9am now and she still hasn't laid. I felt up in her yesterday and didn't feel anything (the egg was still high up), but she sprayed out a clear smelly liquid. I tried again this morning to see if it shifted, and it wasn't there, but I felt what I think is an egg behind a flesh membrane/wall, so I'm thinking now that it might be an internal lay? But if it could be anything else, please let me know.
She hadn't pooped since I found her, until I put my finger up her vent this morning (it came out once i got my finger out), but the poop that came out looked relatively normal.
She's been eating some peck and lay and still has appetite, and I added some egg shell to it this morning to hopefully get more calcium in. I'm keeping her in a laundry basket with plenty of towels to for now.
Should I see a vet? Is there any way to treat this at home? Does she have much hope? She's acting pretty normal aside from being unable to stand.
I discovered her around 4:30/5pm yesterday, and felt an egg high in her abdomen, so I thought she was egg bound. I gave her an epsom salt bath three times and lubed her vent in the hopes that she would lay by herself but it is 9am now and she still hasn't laid. I felt up in her yesterday and didn't feel anything (the egg was still high up), but she sprayed out a clear smelly liquid. I tried again this morning to see if it shifted, and it wasn't there, but I felt what I think is an egg behind a flesh membrane/wall, so I'm thinking now that it might be an internal lay? But if it could be anything else, please let me know.
She hadn't pooped since I found her, until I put my finger up her vent this morning (it came out once i got my finger out), but the poop that came out looked relatively normal.
She's been eating some peck and lay and still has appetite, and I added some egg shell to it this morning to hopefully get more calcium in. I'm keeping her in a laundry basket with plenty of towels to for now.
Should I see a vet? Is there any way to treat this at home? Does she have much hope? She's acting pretty normal aside from being unable to stand.
