Egg bound or egg yolk peritonitis

[Mana Acres Farm]

I have a 2 1/2 year old buff orpington that I am treating for the possible egg bound. She has all the classic symptoms...lethargic, puffed up, walking like a penquin, and just not acting herself. I soaked her 2 times yesterday in a warm bath with epsom salt, gave her a epsom salt enema and also lubed her vent with oil. I separated her from the folk and kept her inside in a quiet warm spot to hopefully lay the egg. Nothing this morning but she did poop a normal looking amount which she did not do yesterday. I also was able to get her to eat some scrambled eggs with a small amount of yogurt on it this morning. While she was eating her starting lifting her tail and it seemed like she was pushing. I am just wondering if I soak her again today and also what could help. Also how long could this go on before she either passes an egg or it is something else? Looking for any advice I can get.

 

[micstrachan]

Did you examine her vent by inserting a finger and did you feel an egg? When was the last time she laid?

Edited for typos.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

You'll need to check her to see if there is an egg stuck. Lube up a gloved finger (vaseline or any type of oil will work) and insert your finger 1 - 2 inches inside her vent to see if you can feel an egg. As she has pooped, she may not have an egg stuck.... but lets wait and see about that.
If there is an egg, it needs to come out asap so check as soon as you can. She is probably exhausted poor girl.

 

[micstrachan]

Also, is her abdomen (fluffy area below vent and between legs) bloated with fluid at all and is her breast muscle wasting away? (both may indicate EYP).

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Posted same time as @micstrachan I think you intended to say finger instead of ginger

 

[micstrachan]

Yes, thanks. World’s worst thumb typist here!

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Yes, thanks. World’s worst thumb typist here!

Snap! I need to check EVERYTHING!!

 

[rebrascora]

Others have given good advice. I would refrain from giving her another enema. It can introduce infection into the oviduct since faeces and eggs both pass through the cloaca, so any back pressure of liquid can push bacteria up into the oviduct.
Other questions would be what you feed your flock and if you have any idea when she last laid an egg? Is her comb nice and plump and red or dry and pale and wizened?
Checking her for abdominal swelling by cupping your hand between her legs is important. Being egg bound will not cause significant swelling there. Compare by feeling normal healthy hens. Also check crop function.... ie feel her crop at night when she goes to roost and remove access to food. Check again first thing in the morning when it should be empty. Reproductive problems will often cause the digestive tract to get backed up and the crop to be slow.

 

[Mana Acres Farm]

Did you examine her vent by inserting a finger and did you feel an egg? When was the last time she laid?

Edited for typos.

Yes I did that and did not feel an egg. But her belly was not as hard today. I have soaked her again, blown her dry and she ate some more egg. Not a lot but seems to have an appetite. Today she was pushing more then yesterday but still no egg

 

[Mana Acres Farm]

Others have given good advice. I would refrain from giving her another enema. It can introduce infection into the oviduct since faeces and eggs both pass through the cloaca, so any back pressure of liquid can push bacteria up into the oviduct.
Other questions would be what you feed your flock and if you have any idea when she last laid an egg? Is her comb nice and plump and red or dry and pale and wizened?
Checking her for abdominal swelling by cupping your hand between her legs is important. Being egg bound will not cause significant swelling there. Compare by feeling normal healthy hens. Also check crop function.... ie feel her crop at night when she goes to roost and remove access to food. Check again first thing in the morning when it should be empty. Reproductive problems will often cause the digestive tract to get backed up and the crop to be slow.