Egg Bound Hen ***UPDATE POST 30***

[Kittymomma]

I haven't had any that broke an egg inside and needed antibiotics, but I have had a few that were egg bound and sometimes it takes repeated treatments. I'd give her another sitz bath in the sink and rub vaseline (or similar) around/inside the vent area again.

In cases that the egg is truly stuck I've read where people have carefully broken, drained, and removed it, but I haven't done that and it seems like a last ditch effort kind of thing due to the risk of infection and further injuring the hen.

ETA: You might see if you can get her to eat a crushed tums--I *think* the high calcium in them is supposed to help them push--can't remember for sure, but it wouldn't hurt anything if you wanted to try it.

 

[NoSkiveez]

Quote:
We tried adding some vitamins this morning but I haven't seen improvement. She's clearly suffering and I am begining to think that she won't pass this egg. Putting her down is starting to look like the most human option. The egg does not seem to want to move out of there. Waste is no longer able to pass and it looks like her insides are coming out everytime she strains. Its very sad to see her like this.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

I'm sorry to hear about your pullet. If you go the the FAQs you will find how to deal with eggbound chickens. The bath should be up to her back, about the temperature that you would have it for a baby. You may have to keep her in for 30 minutes. Then wrap her in some warmed up towels to absorb most of the water. You could put her on a towel covered heating pad on low heat as well. Blow drying is usually relaxing as well. It takes a while to get all the under feather dry. I hadn't heard about humidity. I thought humidity was not good for their respiratory systems.

 

[Kittymomma]

I'm sorry she's not doing better. It's always so hard to make the decison to cull, but if she can't pass the egg soon I think you're right.

 

[shuizar209]

How is she doing?

 

[Qi Chicken]

I've never had any experience with this but if you think you will have to cull you might break the egg and pull it out as a last ditch effort. It is so close to the vent that you might be able to do it, especially if it is soft.

 

[Karen_at_LittleBrook]

I was told by a farmer to administer olive oil with a syringe and hope she swallows it. Poor thing... you and her! How is she doing?

 

[NoSkiveez]

The plan was, after dinner hubby would put her down. He really dislikes having to put anything down so he wanted to wait until morning. He even got up earlier than every one else so he wouldn't have to tell the kids to stay inside (my daughter can be quite the drama queen) but she was standing up on her own, eating drinking and had pooped in her crate. I sifted thru her bedding and found some gelly like stuff and think she may have passed the egg sometime last night and possibly eaten most of it. That is the only thing I can assume. I didn't "check" her. What ever has happened, she's back from the brink of death. I may never get all the vaseline off this chicken! I hope this doesn't happen with her again. I had done the olive oil, steamed dog crate 85% humidity 98°, calcium, gro gel, warm bath and as much vaseline as I could get inside the vent (not an easy task). I'm glad we waited. I'm glad she didn't die. I didn't try to ease the egg out because I thought other stuff not part of the egg would come with it.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

SO glad she is doing better! Great job (to her and you and hubby, all)!

 

[jjthink]

Held my breath through this entire thread!!!!


What is her diet?
Does she have oyster shell available?

According to an experienced person on this site, you can give a crushed Tums at times like these - mix with a bit of water and gently dribble along beak line with a dropper, so she swallows on her own and doesn't choke. It is supposed to help provide strength to push the egg out.

I would be inclined to keep her with a buddy in a dark situation for a few days (with just a few hours light) so her system can rest and not be producing more eggs on top of that troubled one (actually there are probably already more behind it but a rest from light will stop even more from piling up right away).

JJ