Egg bound midget white hen

[Lilredhippie]

I noticed one of my midget white hens looking a little droopy for the past couple of days. She was looking worse tonight, so I thought I better take a closer look at her. She walks slowly, I have not seen her eat lately and has that fluffed up, hunchbacked look. When I caught her, I felt her abdomen above her vent, and there is a large, hard "mass" there. I did insert a well oiled, gloved finger in her vent, could still feel the mass. But that did not produce a bowel movement. I know from buthering turkeys and chickens that the gizzard is in that area, so I am not sure if I am feeling an egg that will not pass or her gizzard. Does someone have any suggestions?

 

[ivan3]

Palpating the gizzard?

Is this a jenny just starting to lay, or an older girl? The standard advice is to place the bird in warm water (bathtub) and that will often relax them sufficiently to move things along. Younger birds, in particular, could be bound on a soft shelled egg (often associated with too little calcium in diet). Soaks might have to be repeated several times over a period of days (Midget White easier than a big ole Bourbon hen, I'd guess). Black Oil Sunflower seeds ad lib are often suggested to keep hens `fluid'.

For more ideas just search the Emergencies subject line for Egg Bound.

Good luck!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Since the Midgets lay such a large egg for their size they get egg bound from time to time. I've had some success getting the egg to pass. Of the ones I did get to pass about half the time they would prolapse later. Try the warm water as Ivan said and go from there.

Steve

 

[Lilredhippie]

Ivan, the hen is over a year old. She laid all spring and until it got really hot here this summer. The hens just started laying again.
I have heard of these soaks, but honestly, I don't know if I can accomplish that regularly enough to help. I put her in with my Black Jersey Giant hens last night. The matron of the flocks, Momma Brown (broad breasted bronze hen 3years old) lives there also, so she had good company. The MW seemed a little better this morning, but I did not see evidence that she passed anything last evening.
BOCOMO? What part of Boone County?

Thanks also Steve.

 

[ivan3]

Lilredhippie wrote: Ivan, the hen is over a year old. She laid all spring and until it got really hot here this summer. The hens just started laying again.
I have heard of these soaks, but honestly, I don't know if I can accomplish that regularly enough to help. I put her in with my Black Jersey Giant hens last night. The matron of the flocks, Momma Brown (broad breasted bronze hen 3years old) lives there also, so she had good company. The MW seemed a little better this morning, but I did not see evidence that she passed anything last evening.
BOCOMO? What part of Boone County?

Try the soak at least once (warm as possible without being uncomfortable), or sit her in the bathroom with the door closed and the shower running until it is humid as a jungle (if you are in Boone CO. this afternoon, out-of-doors, might work if the faucet turns off and it gets sunny

).
You could try either olive oil or KY (careful not to get to far in and bust the egg - if this is what is causing her to be puny).
Do you feed free choice oyster shell (calcium)? Do they range a lot or are they in a run most of the time? What is the regular feed?

Wish I had some other ideas. Steve is a serious aficionado of Midget Whites, I'm just a dabbler in Royals/Slates.

Oh, Northern Boone (won't be annexed into Columbia in my lifetime

).​

 

[Lilredhippie]

Ivan,
I would be happy to give "Knuckle Head" to you if you want to try to work with her. I am not in a position right now, due to a death in the family, to undertake this. I do not want her to suffer and if you do not want her, I will put her down.
I love between Hallsville and Columbia off Rt. B. I get home around 6 each evening. I will send directions if you want her.

 

[Lilredhippie]

OK, that should say I live, between Hallsville and Columbia......dyslexic fingers....

 

[ivan3]

Sorry for your loss. Will PM you.

 

[Lilredhippie]

After speaking with Ivan, I decided to go ahead and put Knuckle Head down.

I could feel the egg and it was going to be too large for her to pass, so no sense in prolonging her misery. I did an autopsy, or whatever you call it when you try to determine the problem with a turkey.
Sorry Ivan, I did not take out my camera. I take awful photos.

As suspected, she was egg bound, with an egg more the size of one my broad breasted hen would lay. They fallopian tube was extendec to the breaking point. And it had twisted. So, that egg was never going to come out. The egg had several layers of what appeared to be cooked egg white coating it. The fallopian tube was also filled with the same substance.

There were no other eggs apparent.

She apparently had stopped eating or drinking, as the meat was very dry and sticky, so I did not finish butchering her.

Thanks to everyone who replied to my original post. Guess I'll save one of this years Midget White hens for a brood hen next spring.

 

[ivan3]

Sorry about Knuckle Head. Thanks so much for posting that information. From the description it might be she was also something of an internal layer (or the stricture was somehow interfering with the next egg?).

Here's to hoping that you, Momma Brown, and the rest of your flock do well!