Do egg bound hens poop?

[lsumner95]

This is happening to my hen, hoping someone is able to come back and give some advice

 

[Jodie94]

Any response? Mine has been like it for 2 days. No egg, normal in herself other than straining and sitting all day. I’ve soaked her and added lubricants.

 

[Lillith37]

Chickens who are egg bound with an egg stuck at the vent cannot poop. This is an emergency and will cause death within 48 hours if the hen cannot pass the egg. You will be able to feel it with a finger or see it at the vent opening.

Chickens who are egg bound higher up the reproductive tract (usually with a soft shelled egg) can poop. This is not so much of an emergency however multiple eggs can back up in the salpinx and cause significant distress and discomfort.

In either case the protocol is to give 600mg calcium citrate daily. Warm epsom salt soaks are also recommended. Keep the chicken somewhere dark, warm and quiet to help her relax.

I wrote an article about reproductive health in chickens which may give you some further understanding.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/reproductive-health-in-chickens.79238/

 

[Rachel_liz15]

Chickens who are egg bound with an egg stuck at the vent cannot poop. This is an emergency and will cause death within 48 hours if the hen cannot pass the egg. You will be able to feel it with a finger or see it at the vent opening.

Chickens who are egg bound higher up the reproductive tract (usually with a soft shelled egg) can poop. This is not so much of an emergency however multiple eggs can back up in the salpinx and cause significant distress and discomfort.

In either case the protocol is to give 600mg calcium citrate daily. Warm epsom salt soaks are also recommended. Keep the chicken somewhere dark, warm and quiet to help her relax.

I wrote an article about reproductive health in chickens which may give you some further understanding.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/reproductive-health-in-chickens.79238/

Thank you for this! I’m going through this right now. My 6-7 month old Houdan is acting egg bound, but is still pooping. I’m afraid to check her vent with my finger as I don’t want anything to get pushed further inside and if she’s pooping I highly doubt I’d feel anything anyway. My fiancé did see 2 soft shelled eggs in the coop earlier today when he was cleaning it out.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you for this! I’m going through this right now. My 6-7 month old Houdan is acting egg bound, but is still pooping. I’m afraid to check her vent with my finger as I don’t want anything to get pushed further inside and if she’s pooping I highly doubt I’d feel anything anyway. My fiancé did see 2 soft shelled eggs in the coop earlier today when he was cleaning it out.

I don't think there is a danger of you pushing an egg further up her tract by doing an little exam if she's egg bound. If she's bound, that egg is stuck. Using a gloved and lubricated finger, gently explore. If an egg is stuck, you'll feel it but you'd have to really push to be able to move it, and that's just not likely.

Giving her a calcium citrate +D3 tablet will really help her with those soft shelled eggs. You can get them at any store that carries vitamins and supplements. Just pop one in her beak, she can swallow it no problem. Give one a day for about a week.

Are you providing oyster shell in a separate container, always available? It helps with forming healthy egg shells.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for this! I’m going through this right now. My 6-7 month old Houdan is acting egg bound, but is still pooping. I’m afraid to check her vent with my finger as I don’t want anything to get pushed further inside and if she’s pooping I highly doubt I’d feel anything anyway. My fiancé did see 2 soft shelled eggs in the coop earlier today when he was cleaning it out.

I would not feel inside the vent, you can do some damage depending on how far and which way you feel, introduce some bacteria or fecal matter into the oviduct or it is possible to push material or an egg further into the oviduct.

If she's pooping, then she's not bound to the extent of an egg blocking the vent.
Since you suspect she's the one with the soft shelled eggs, start giving her Calcium Citrate+D3 once daily for 5 days. You can find this at Walmart, CVS, etc. Pull down on her wattles, pop the tablet into the beak and let her swallow.

See that she's eating and drinking well. Provide oyster shell free choice.

It's not uncommon for pullets to have a few softies if they have just started laying eggs, but these can be very difficult to expel.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

is possible to push material or an egg further into the oviduct

I stand corrected. Thanks, @Wyorp Rock.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I stand corrected. Thanks, @Wyorp Rock.

I was not correcting you.
I was addressing the OP's concerns.

While in the past, feeling inside for an egg was suggested, I've even suggested it in the past, it's not a practice that I would do anymore, so I do not recommend it.

As time goes by, as I study more, read more, see more with my own eyes and just overall learn more, I tend to tweak practices/suggestions or just plain 'ol change my mind about treatment(s), conditions and the way that I would do things.

Thank you for this! I’m going through this right now. My 6-7 month old Houdan is acting egg bound, but is still pooping. I’m afraid to check her vent with my finger as I don’t want anything to get pushed further inside and if she’s pooping I highly doubt I’d feel anything anyway. My fiancé did see 2 soft shelled eggs in the coop earlier today when he was cleaning it out.

I would not feel inside the vent, you can do some damage depending on how far and which way you feel, introduce some bacteria or fecal matter into the oviduct or it is possible to push material or an egg further into the oviduct.