Egg bound emergeny--is there anyone who could talk me through this?

[carrlr]

So so sorry for your loss.

You did everything you could.

 

[chickenbythesea]

so very sorry to hear this...

 

[pinguin]

Thanks to all who read and/or replied. No matter that I have close to 50 chickens, with each loss goes a bit of me. Every one is special. Only BYC folks truly appreciate that.

I'm almost sure that her death was due to low calcium. As she seized, she stiffened & was paralyzed, a symptom of calcium tetany. Perhaps she had a genetic problem with metabolizing calcium. I don't know. If I'd realized sooner that she was egg bound, I could have given her a solution of calcium in water, but I didn't. (Crushed Tums? Does anyone know how much per pound/KG of chicken?)

Though I see the occasional soft shelled egg, it happens very seldom. They spend a good part of their day in their covered day pen as well as in their secure runs, and at least an hour a day free ranging (under supervision), so they should have no shortage of Vitamin D.

It's been a very, very stressful day. Think I need to say a final goodbye to my dear Gracie & go cry for a while.

 

[terrilhb]

I am so sorry for your loss. Yes people on BYC do understand.

 

[Wynette]

pinguin, I'm so sorry to hear this. Yes, it's heartbreaking to lose one. You sound like you are well educated and have lots of experience...I'm sure nothing more could have been done. It's my hope that whoever has read this thread has come away with a bit more in their "library of knowledge" for future reference.

 

[pinguin]

Quote:
Wynette, I wish experience could prevent such deaths, but it seems the more I learn along this chicken journey (now 3 1/2 years), the more I know I don't know. Gracie is the first hen I've lost to egg binding. Thought I knew how to help egg-bound hens, but today I found out that my "successes" were probably more luck than skill. :-(((

One thing I've resolved is to never buy another hatchery bird. Internal laying has plagued more than a few of my girls and I'll not go through that again.

Thanks again for your kind words. It truly helps.

 

[LilBiddy]

OMGosh...I'm literally spilling tears as I read this and am writing now. I only have 3 chickens aged 2 months. I learned something here at the expense of your Gracie. This story almost makes me not want to have any chickens. I've already lost 4 of my chickens to predators due to an insufficient coop. I thought my troubles were over. I had no idea a hen could get an egg stuck...NEVER considered that or heard of that. One thing is for sure, I'll be in here alot....trying to arm myself with all this wealth of knowledge. Gracie just helped a newbie become determined to GET EDUCATED FASTER......

I am so sorry...my heart aches for you....

 

[jjthink]

So soooo heartbreaking...

I'm at work and so terribly sorry that I didn't see this sooner. As I read your first post I hurried to get to the end so I could post about giving her Tums if you hadn't already (crush a Tums in a bit of water and administer via dropper, gently along beak line so the hen swallows on her own and doesn't choke...)....

These situations are life and death and a vet is the only other potential way to save their lives, above and beyond what you were doing.

I'm so very sad and sorry she had this horrible experience and that she didn't make it

JJ

 

[pinguin]

Quote:
Oh, LilBiddy, that's always my first response when I lose a bird: sell them all! Don't take a chance on being hurt, again. That thought lasts as long as it takes before I next go out to the coop & the boys & girls come running to see if I have a handful of violet leaves or tender raspberry leaves. And then I remember how much I love them and how much joy they have brought into my life.

I've lost several birds to predators: a hawk (that ended our experiment in free ranging bitty birds) & a coon (we were lucky to only lose a young cockerel). There have been a half dozen other deaths in the last 3+ years, most of which were not preventable even had I understood what was happening in time.

Most of us can't afford expensive veterinary care for our birds. I know I can't. So we muddle along, reading BYC posts and hopefully learning to spot illness in time to treat it.

You already have a good head start in learning to be a wonderful chicken mom: BYC and a willingness to do what it takes to make your chickies safe. I wish that were all it took to keep every one of our charges healthy and happy, but like with our human lives, things happen.

Thanks for your support. It helps so much.

 

[pinguin]

Quote:
JJ, thanks. It was probably too late for the Tums by the time I realized what was happening. My "success" with previous egg bound hens was my downfall. Instead of assuming that a bath & gentle pressure would do the trick, I should have gone for the Tums immediately. FWIW, I did check Gail Damerow's The Chicken Health Handbook when nothing seemed to be working, as well as posted a plea for help. I learned a hard lesson today. Only wish Gracie hadn't had to pay the price.

If even one chicken could be spared the same and one chicken mom or dad, I could more easily lay Gracie to rest.