Egg bound hen - help her pass on?

[ozarkchickens]

I have a 5-6 yo RIR who has been eggbound for ~ 72 hours. I have never had an eggbound hen, need help. Saw her in the penguin stance, tail down not eating, felt her abdomen, found the shape of a giant egg down low between her legs. Took her inside, soaked in warm water w Epsom salts 2x day, gave calcium in food and water (altho she's not eating or drinking much), massaged abdomen. Egg moved very slowly up toward vent over days, she strains but can't pass it. Can't poop now.

She's always laid abnormal eggs, likely genetic. Mostly giant soft shell, then stopped laying for a long period then dropped some odd shapes and fairy eggs, now this giant shelled egg. She's been on Purina layer pellets, free choice oyster shell and grit, fresh organic fruits and veggies daily (v limited), occasional scrambled eggs.

This strikes me as a terrible way to die, like dying of constipation. I love her but hate for her to suffer. At what point do I help her pass on less painfully?

 

[micstrachan]

Aww, I’m so sorry. This is a call only you can make. How do you know she can’t poop? Have you inserted a finger into her vent and felt an egg in there? Can you give her a calcium citrate pill to Valero her pass the egg, if it is one?

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[Shezadandy]

Are you positive it's an actual egg and not a lash egg? I lost one to a giant lash egg she couldn't pass -so it was a double problem - infection + object stuck and causing pain.

 

[ozarkchickens]

Aww, I’m so sorry. This is a call only you can make. How do you know she can’t poop? Have you inserted a finger into her vent and felt an egg in there? Can you give her a calcium citrate pill to Valero her pass the egg, if it is one?

She's in a large crate so I can see how much she's (not) eating and drinking, and no poop in the crate. Also hard to get calcium in her with no food intake - I do have liquid calcium, could use a small amount in a dropper.

 

[ozarkchickens]

Are you positive it's an actual egg and not a lash egg? I lost one to a giant lash egg she couldn't pass -so it was a double problem - infection + object stuck and causing pain.

No, I've never had a lash egg. How would I know the difference if she hasn't passed it?

 

[coach723]

Liquid calcium is fine, it's actually absorbed quicker. If you have a pill you can grind it and mix it with a bit of water to give it via oral syringe. Have you tried lubing her vent? If you have some KY jelly (or vaseline, or vegetable oil if that's all you've got) use a gloved finger to lube up her vent and around the egg as best you can. You usually can't tell lash material from an actual egg unless it's exposed so you can see it. After you get some calcium in her try the warm soak again. Dark quiet room may help, anything to help her relax a bit. Last ditch effort you can try to remove the egg manually, this link explains how to attempt that, if that becomes necessary:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms/

 

[AmyJane725]

Calcium in the food/water isn't going to be enough. Break a tums tablet into a few pieces and insert them directly into her beak, or use the liquid calcium. You can use the extra strength tums.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

5-6 yo RIR who has been eggbound for ~ 72 hours

Saw her in the penguin stance, tail down not eating, felt her abdomen, found the shape of a giant egg down low between her legs.

Egg moved very slowly up toward vent over days, she strains but can't pass it.

She's always laid abnormal eggs

no poop in the crate.

I'm so sorry about your hen
How is she doing?
There's a few things you mention, that strikes me here. She's been like this for around 72 hours. There's no poop in the crate (has she pooped at all in 72 hrs?).
You felt the shape down low between the legs and with soaking/massage it has slowly moved UP toward the vent. So I'm assuming what you are feeling is in the abdomen, not in the oviduct.

It sounds like she is laying internally, has a mass in the abdomen, could be lash material, tumor, cancer, etc. If that is in the abdomen, then it's not going to come out.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I agree with @Wyorp Rock
This sounds like internal tumor blocking things from either internal laying or salpingistis (internal infection).

Hopefully some of the calcium drops and a final bath will help.

If it doesn't, and you need to help her pass to the happy coop in the sky, I recommend doing the CO2 method.

Get a bucket with lid. Buy some dry ice from the local grocery market (most chains keep it in a deep freeze at the front of the checkouts. You'll need someone to get it due to state laws since it can burn hands if gloves aren't used). You only need about 1/4 pound, and it's very cheap.

Place dry ice at bottom of bucket. If you have styrofoam plate, you can place that over the ice to keep the bird off the ice as a last comfort. However, be sure the plate doesn't block the gas flow from the ice.

Poor warm water onto the ice. A cloud will immediately begin to develop. Place lid LOOSELY on the bucket (otherwise gas can build and blow lid off). Let a thick cloud form.

Lower hen into bucket and replace lid. The hen will take a gulp in panic, then go unconscious. She will suffocate from the CO2 within 30 seconds to a minute. All the flapping is from unconscious involuntary muscular movement. Wait another couple of minutes before removing dead bird. Check to make sure she has truly passed.

It is the kindest way I know of to euthanize an ill bird. I use the broomstick method for roosters and such, but when they already feel so crummy I hate to do that.

The trick is lowering the animal into a really thick cloud of CO2. It uses the same principle as the fire extinguish Co2 systems in high tech buildings. Workers are warned get out immediately as one gulp from the sudden burst of cloud will render you unconscious. Death is from suffocation within minutes.

The American Veterinary Society has approved this method for home euthanasia as well.

I'm sorry your hen is doing poorly. I too had a New Hampshire eventually develop internal problems after laying oversized eggs for some time. It simply fatigues their insides or something.

Let us know how she is doing and your final outcome.



LofMc