Egg Bound? Maybe Broken Egg?

[Chick_Crazy]

So recently I had a Rhode Island Red get a vent prolapse. I had never dealt with it before, but after two weeks of treatment she was back to her usual self! I was so excited. But then, two days after I put her back with the flock, she tried to lay an egg. And it was a soft shelled. I noticed she was hunched over in the nest box, so I checked her vent and found a soft shelled skin sticking out of her butt. I was so shocked! I immediately separated her, and have been epsom salt bathing her everyday. It’s been almost 4 days since I found her like that, but still no egg. While bathing her, I feel a hard shelled egg further down her abdomen, and a blob at the top near the vent. I’m thinking maybe there is a full egg, no shell blocking her vent. She doesn’t seem to be hunched over like a normal egg bound hen, or in any discomfort. Just tired. She is eating and drinking normally, and walking around too. I have her separated from the flock with ACV in her water, and I have been giving her berries and oatmeal. She is pooping normally too. For almost a month this chicken has been through so much, but she is super strong and I want to give her the help that she needs. If anyone knows anything about this, plz let me know!

 

[azygous]

Is she an older layer? How old?

If she does have a stuck egg for four days, she's likely so exhausted, the outcome may not be good. Just a warning.

This is very important. At the first sign of a reproductive crisis, whenever a hen appears to be struggling to lay an egg, she needs calcium in the form of an easily and quickly adsorbed concentrated tablet. Like this:

Give one tablet directly into her beak immediately, and one tablet each day while she's still in crisis, and for a few days following. This encourages contractions so she can expel whatever is obstructing her oviduct.

 

[azygous]

Also, one warm soak at the onset is sufficient. Repeated soakings stress a hen to the point it can be counterproductive. I place my hen that is struggling to lay on a bunch of towels warmed in the dryer to relax her.

 

[Chick_Crazy]

Is she an older layer? How old?

If she does have a stuck egg for four days, she's likely so exhausted, the outcome may not be good. Just a warning.

This is very important. At the first sign of a reproductive crisis, whenever a hen appears to be struggling to lay an egg, she needs calcium in the form of an easily and quickly adsorbed concentrated tablet. Like this:View attachment 3053071Give one tablet directly into her beak immediately, and one tablet each day while she's still in crisis, and for a few days following. This encourages contractions so she can expel whatever is obstructing her oviduct.

She isn’t old at all. I think only 2 yrs old. Yeah, it’s almost like she doesn’t even want to try to push it out, like she is ignoring it. Is there anyway that I might be able to help her push it out manually? By gently pushing on her abdomen? I’m just so afraid of hurting her, or breaking the egg...

And thank you for the recommendation. I will pick it up today. I just hope she gets better soon!

 

[Chick_Crazy]

Also, one warm soak at the onset is sufficient. Repeated soakings stress a hen to the point it can be counterproductive. I place my hen that is struggling to lay on a bunch of towels warmed in the dryer to relax her.

So I shouldn’t be epsom salt bathing her daily then? She seems to like it...she always falls asleep in the bucket.

 

[Chick_Crazy]

She isn’t old at all. I think only 2 yrs old. Yeah, it’s almost like she doesn’t even want to try to push it out, like she is ignoring it. Is there anyway that I might be able to help her push it out manually? By gently pushing on her abdomen? I’m just so afraid of hurting her, or breaking the egg...

And thank you for the recommendation. I will pick it up today. I just hope she gets better soon!

Is she an older layer? How old?

If she does have a stuck egg for four days, she's likely so exhausted, the outcome may not be good. Just a warning.

This is very important. At the first sign of a reproductive crisis, whenever a hen appears to be struggling to lay an egg, she needs calcium in the form of an easily and quickly adsorbed concentrated tablet. Like this:View attachment 3053071Give one tablet directly into her beak immediately, and one tablet each day while she's still in crisis, and for a few days following. This encourages contractions so she can expel whatever is obstructing her oviduct

Is she an older layer? How old?

If she does have a stuck egg for four days, she's likely so exhausted, the outcome may not be good. Just a warning.

This is very important. At the first sign of a reproductive crisis, whenever a hen appears to be struggling to lay an egg, she needs calcium in the form of an easily and quickly adsorbed concentrated tablet. Like this:View attachment 3053071Give one tablet directly into her beak immediately, and one tablet each day while she's still in crisis, and for a few days following. This encourages contractions so she can expel whatever is obstructing her oviduct.

Was able to get her to take half the tablet. I got a different brand, as it was the only option available. So it doesn’t have the vitamin D3. Tomorrow I am going to try and get her to take the whole thing. I will continue updating.

 

[azygous]

You don't coax a hen to take calcium. You unceremoniously stuff it into her beak. She will swallow. Haven't had a hen choke yet.

The D3 helps absorption, so buy it separately if need be.

 

[Chick_Crazy]

You don't coax a hen to take calcium. You unceremoniously stuff it into her beak. She will swallow. Haven't had a hen choke yet.

The D3 helps absorption, so buy it separately if need be.

You don't coax a hen to take calcium. You unceremoniously stuff it into her beak. She will swallow. Haven't had a hen choke yet.

The D3 helps absorption, so buy it separately if need be.

I gave her a whole tablet, and vitamin D3 on her scrambled eggs. (which she ate too) So hopefully we see some progress!

 

[Chick_Crazy]

Update! Still no egg... but I have been giving her the calcium tablets everyday, and I am giving her vitamin D3 in with her daily treats. (Apples, berries, oatmeal, eggs, and today, yogurt!) she is eating and drinking normally, and is even walking around. She seems perfectly fine, honestly. It’s almost like she has forgotten about her issue. I just keep praying to find an egg in there one morning. Here is a pic of Mapel!

 

[azygous]

I have an older hen, around seven, who has stopped laying normal eggs. Instead, her body passes a collapsed soft shell egg every few days. Some slip harmlessly from her cloaca on the perch over night. Occasionally, one gets hung up and her behavior changes. When that happens, it's very obvious she's in trouble. She slows way down, almost appears to be walking around in slow motion, completely opposite of her normal behavior.

I give her a calcium tablet and place her in a crate on dryer warmed towels with food and water until she passes the collapsed membrane. Then she reverts back to her normal speed.

Your hen, given that her behavior is normal, may have passed her obstruction disguised in poop, and now she's out of her crisis. You might turn her loose and just keep an eye on her.