Sorry if this is a bit lengthy, I will try to keep it as brief as I can. 2 months ago I acquired a couple new hens. I introduced them slowly to my flock and things were going well except with my 1 yr old New Hampshire Red hen. She was the most aggressive toward the new comers and I noticed she stopped laying. I figured she was stressed with the changes and that a few day she would begin laying again however she never did.
2 weeks ago she started acting broody and I often caught her in the laying boxes atop of my other hens eggs. I thought that was odd since she still hadn’t started laying again.
We were out of town this past week and I had my son-in-law caring for them and he informed me that she was plucking her feathers on Thursday. We returned on Saturday to find her walking like a penguin. I was in belief she must be egg bound so we started everything we could find to help her along. Warm Epsom salt soaks, calcium, gentle massage, and lubrication. We are now on day 3 of these interventions and there really has been no egg or real change. She is still eating (although not a lot) and drinking well. She has quite a bit of fight in her during the soaks. Still passing stools ok. Comb doesn’t look pale or droopy. At times she walks fine but at other times she will go back to penguin walking.
From all the research I have done it seems to me she shouldn’t have lasted this long if she was truly egg bound. Is it possible for her to go days being egg bound? Could I be diagnosing this improperly? I do believe I was able to feel an egg about an 1 1/2” back in her vent.
I also should add that we have had about 3 weeks of extreme heat for our area. Many days reaching high 90’s. My hens do have 2 fresh water sources available and are in a shaded area most of the day but they have been pretty inactive, solely trying to stay cool. I provided them a small tub of water to get in hoping they would choose to try to cool themselves in it but they just study it and drink from it now and then.
2 weeks ago she started acting broody and I often caught her in the laying boxes atop of my other hens eggs. I thought that was odd since she still hadn’t started laying again.
We were out of town this past week and I had my son-in-law caring for them and he informed me that she was plucking her feathers on Thursday. We returned on Saturday to find her walking like a penguin. I was in belief she must be egg bound so we started everything we could find to help her along. Warm Epsom salt soaks, calcium, gentle massage, and lubrication. We are now on day 3 of these interventions and there really has been no egg or real change. She is still eating (although not a lot) and drinking well. She has quite a bit of fight in her during the soaks. Still passing stools ok. Comb doesn’t look pale or droopy. At times she walks fine but at other times she will go back to penguin walking.
From all the research I have done it seems to me she shouldn’t have lasted this long if she was truly egg bound. Is it possible for her to go days being egg bound? Could I be diagnosing this improperly? I do believe I was able to feel an egg about an 1 1/2” back in her vent.
I also should add that we have had about 3 weeks of extreme heat for our area. Many days reaching high 90’s. My hens do have 2 fresh water sources available and are in a shaded area most of the day but they have been pretty inactive, solely trying to stay cool. I provided them a small tub of water to get in hoping they would choose to try to cool themselves in it but they just study it and drink from it now and then.
