Egg bound guinea hen?

[GoodGuinea]

I've never had an egg bound bird before, so I'm not sure. She has a large bulge underneath, covered by feathers so I can't see it well. She's not moving with the flock, but sitting on the grass, and it looks like she's rocking back and forth a little. She's been doing this for a while now. It's very unusual for her.

Does that sound like egg binding? Can I help her? She's not a tame bird (though not a troublemaker), and she's not going to be happy with me trying anything.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I've never had an egg bound bird before, so I'm not sure. She has a large bulge underneath, covered by feathers so I can't see it well. She's not moving with the flock, but sitting on the grass, and it looks like she's rocking back and forth a little. She's been doing this for a while now. It's very unusual for her.

Does that sound like egg binding? Can I help her? She's not a tame bird (though not a troublemaker), and she's not going to be happy with me trying anything.

Can you catch her? Working with semi wild guineas is hard because the stress of working a sick and stressed bird can kill it. Nonetheless, if they are sick enough then you have no choice but to try. Go through materials on egg bound hens to help with a plan. You’ll need a sick cage, warm water to soak her, ky jelly and gloves. You might also post on the diseases forum for additional help or consider a vet.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-binding-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention.66978/

 

[GoodGuinea]

Thank you. I wasn't sure if I should try to help, or if it would just stress her out and make things worse. But she was still waddling around this morning, with a large bulge down there and very swollen feet. So I called a friend (a fellow chicken owner who happens to also be an OBGYN) to come help me.

We managed to catch the hen and hold her. It didn't go well. She cut her head on the gate while trying to get away. We tried the epsom salt bath, but it didn't help. My friend did an exam with KY jelly, and concluded it's actually not an egg. She said it's some kind of soft tissue mass, vaguely egg-shaped. Her first thought is that it's a tumor, but she's not sure.

So that's where we're at. I think it might be better to put the hen out of her misery, but my husband wants to wait and see. For now, she's separated from the others by an adjoining door so they can't go after her, but she can still be close by. I don't have much hope that she'll make it through this.

 

[R2elk]

We managed to catch the hen and hold her. It didn't go well. She cut her head on the gate while trying to get away. We tried the epsom salt bath, but it didn't help. My friend did an exam with KY jelly, and concluded it's actually not an egg. She said it's some kind of soft tissue mass, vaguely egg-shaped. Her first thought is that it's a tumor, but she's not sure.

My guess would be salpingitis.

 

[GoodGuinea]

My guess would be salpingitis.

I've never heard of this, but I'm reading up on it now. It's a little confusing. I've never seen a lash egg. What would I do for her if this is the case? Are there antibiotics I can give? Or is she too far gone?

 

[R2elk]

I've never heard of this, but I'm reading up on it now. It's a little confusing. I've never seen a lash egg. What would I do for her if this is the case? Are there antibiotics I can give? Or is she too far gone?

Sorry, I don't know the treatment. I have had White Leghorns with it that lived a long time without treatment. I am sure that a search in the Emergencies forum will find treatments that can be tried. Good luck.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Thank you. I wasn't sure if I should try to help, or if it would just stress her out and make things worse. But she was still waddling around this morning, with a large bulge down there and very swollen feet. So I called a friend (a fellow chicken owner who happens to also be an OBGYN) to come help me.

We managed to catch the hen and hold her. It didn't go well. She cut her head on the gate while trying to get away. We tried the epsom salt bath, but it didn't help. My friend did an exam with KY jelly, and concluded it's actually not an egg. She said it's some kind of soft tissue mass, vaguely egg-shaped. Her first thought is that it's a tumor, but she's not sure.

So that's where we're at. I think it might be better to put the hen out of her misery, but my husband wants to wait and see. For now, she's separated from the others by an adjoining door so they can't go after her, but she can still be close by. I don't have much hope that she'll make it through this.

Well you did a good job examining her! I’d still be thinking of what’s treatable, so you could give her calcium, still on the theory that it’s an egg related problem. I recently lost a guinea hen and had a necropsy performed. She had an infection of her kidney/oviduct that the pathologist though was associated with egg laying. I have not had to deal with a lash egg, but I know it’s difficult to fully resolve the infection...