EGG BOUND HEN, PLEASE HELP!!!

[RunnerChick]

I have a hen that got droopy about 3 days ago. At the time, I could feel a normally sized egg in the middle of her abdomen. I dusted her for mites (just in case), and separated her so she could have access to food/water without stress. There is now a baseball sized mass in her caudal abdomen (closer to the tail). I have the Gail Damerow chicken health book, and as gross as it sounds, I gently put my finger in her cloaca to see if I could feel the egg. I cannot get to it...not sure if my technique is not right or what. I think I'm getting close to a medical emergency, but I'm not sure there are any vets in my area that see chickens. Any advice? I probably only have maybe a day or so before she gets shocky. She was a little that way last night (pale comb, panting, hot) but seems a little better today. I think the egg was moving a little and causing her pain. Right now though, I'm thinking there is no way that egg isn't coming out without help.

 

[realsis]

Have you tried giving her a human calcium pill or a calcium glutenate shot? The vet gives calcium glutenate shots to egg bound hens. Sometimes the feed store will carry injectable calcium under the name Theracalcium. Just make sure the ingredients are calcium glutenate
If you can not find that then give a human calcium pill
This should help her lay. You might want to lube her vent with ky jelly to help the egg come out. Of course if you can at all possible at this point take her a vet might be a good idea. They can break the egg and remove it if need be. If you can't get to the vet then try the calcium. Best wishes. Keep us updated.

 

[RunnerChick]

Thanks! I found an avian vet willing to look at her. Had I looked into this earlier, I might have given her some calcium yesterday...but she might be beyond calcium treatment today. The mass in her abdomen is so huge, I don't see how she'll pass it without help.

 

[graciesmum]

Hope it goes well, I just had to cull one of mine, as no matter what we tried we just couldn't help her :-(