Egg bound...I'm very upset

[Foggy Hermit]

I'm not sure if anyone can give me advice but yesterday morning I noticed one of my golden comets was acting like she needed to lay and egg. Early am, never paid too much attention. In evening I found her on the nest. I gave her a warm bath last night and again this morning. I kept her inside with me last night but let her out with the others this morning. I put her in the nest and about 1/2 hour later she was out walking around...barely. Her tail is down, she did eat a little this morning and drank. She's now resting indoors on a heating pad. Nothing happening. I did use KY and looked for an egg, don't see anything. Her poop is whitish and sometimes (after bath) she had a little bit of dark stuff. I'm in tears today, no vets around here deal with this and I'm just not sure how long to let her go like this. I crushed 1/2 a low dose aspirin mixed with yogurt and a tums pill. Can anyone help me with this? I would be very grateful for some advice!

 

[HENSMIDWIFEc]

Hi Foggy Hermit;

I just posted about the need for more poultry vets.

You are doing great with the warm bath. Here's some more on that: warm bath, stay with her, of course, but keep her in for about 20 minutes, allow her to settle and relax into the water - head and beak out of water at all times, of course. put mineral oil in the water (yes, she will be a greasy girl for awhile). Dim the lights and speak softly to her to maximize the process. Once you are done, let her be for awhile alone in a dimmed area and monitor her for the egg. You could start calling large animal vets and ask who they know who treat poultry.

It has been awhile, and as you noted her poo is starting to show changes in health because of the egg-bound issue. She could also be egg-bound trying to pass a shell-less egg.

Katherin
The Hens' Midwife(c)