Egg bound hen?? *Pics*

[bhawk-23]

Yes, perfect! That will work.

Glad your hen is returning to normal behavior. It's definitely a good sign.

She is up and at it with the rest of the flock this morning. But she is going into the coop to look around but has not laid an egg. If I'm giving the calcium how long do I wait for her to lay an egg? Is it only an emergency if she looks ill or do I just take her to the vet if it's been a certain amount of time? I hope I am being clear in my question. Lol

Thank you!

 

[azygous]

When she's active, bright, good appetite, behaving normally, pooping normally, roosting with the others, and when she lays an egg that is the only egg in that one-day cycle and it has a good shell, then you can stop the daily calcium tablet and relax.

I don't see the need for a vet at this time, unless she begins to fluff up, slow down, act sleepy with eyes dull and droopy. Then you might suspect an infection has begun, which is a big risk anytime an egg collapses inside a hen. If she starts acting sick, then she needs an antibiotic.

If this makes you worried and anxious, you can decide to be proactive and start her on an antibiotic to head off any possibility of a reproductive tract infection from this ordeal. In fact, it's what I do every time a hen of mine has experienced a collapsed egg inside.

It's your choice. Go with what you feel is best for your hen.

 

[bhawk-23]

@azygous

Thank you so much for your help! She is doing everything normal as of now but no regular egg yet. My hubs asked about an antibiotic (he's out of town and was doing some research of his own) and said you can get it at a farm store?? I am not opposed to preemptively treating since I am new and time is of the essence with these girls from what I see. What antibiotic do you use? Does a vet prescribe it?

Thanks again!

 

[azygous]

The only antibiotic I know of that you might be able to find at a feed store is injectible penicillin. I've used penicillin to forestall a reproductive infection, and it seems to work okay for that, but injecting it can be uncomfortable for some people.

I use amoxicillin. I always keep a supply on hand to administer immediately when necessary. It beats waiting for it to arrive in the mail. I give one 250mg tablet per day for ten days. This is a standard hen from three to five pounds.

https://www.kvsupply.com/item/aqua-mox-250mg-capsules-100-count/P06184/

 

[azygous]

If you have a vet, you can ask them to sell you an antibiotic. My vet would do that for me when I asked him. He wouldn't see chickens, but was helpful in this way.

 

[bhawk-23]

The only antibiotic I know of that you might be able to find at a feed store is injectible penicillin. I've used penicillin to forestall a reproductive infection, and it seems to work okay for that, but injecting it can be uncomfortable for some people.

I use amoxicillin. I always keep a supply on hand to administer immediately when necessary. It beats waiting for it to arrive in the mail. I give one 250mg tablet per day for ten days. This is a standard hen from three to five pounds.

Just to be sure, it is marketed for fish but safe for the hens? Don't want to just order without confirming it is the right one

 

[bhawk-23]

That's a good idea! I have a very good relationship with my vet! They don't see chickens but she knows me and how I care for my animals quite well. I'll try there on Monday as long as Lizzy is still doing well. If not then the chicken vet it will be.
Side note: our chicken clinic is considered an "exotic animal vet" and has the prices to prove it. That just really surprised me! Hahaha

 

[azygous]

Many of us here use fish antibiotics or pigeon meds. Most of these can be bought online without a prescription. I've been using these fish meds for years with tremendous success. After all, the antibiotic targets the cell walls of the bacteria not the particular animal the bacteria is infecting.

If you have a cooperative vet who will sell you the antibiotics you need, as well as do occasional testing for you, that is something every one of us would be supremely grateful to have as a resource. My vet will gladly run fecal float tests for me, and also other more expensive tests should I request them. We have an agreement that I will do my own treating since he knows nothing about poultry, being mostly a large animal vet.

 

[bhawk-23]

@azygous

So she is not doing so great today. She is up and moving but puffed and didn't take my treat. I put her in a warm bath, dried her some and stuck her in the coop. Within 10 minutes she laid another soft egg.

So Friday night she had the collapsed egg in her poo and then a soft shelled egg 30-60 minutes after. Yesterday, she looked good free ranging with the flock and roosted with them all night. Today, not so good. After the bath another soft shelled egg. Do you have any thoughts about what could possibly be going on? Why so many soft shells? They have layer feed in the run and we switched to all flock during the day 1 week ago (we have 3 week chicks free ranging now too) with access to oyster shell in the yard. They mostly free range though. I will get the antibiotic tomorrow.

 

[azygous]

You need to give her the calcium supplement, 600mg is ideal, religiously every day until she absorbs enough calcium to quit producing these shell-less eggs. That's the only remedy for it. It might help to include a little magnesium along with the D3 for better absorption.

This is a dangerous situation, as I suspect you realize. One of these shell-less eggs are going to get stuck eventually, creating a crisis for her again.