Egg bound or sick or something else???

[azygous]

Poop is consistent with egg binding. It's a huge plus that her crop hasn't been affected. Also, good she isn't declining. Offer her food along with the water. She will eat if she needs to. No need to withhold food.

 

[azygous]

Heat an old bath towel in the microwave. Be sure it isn't hot enough to burn when you slip it under her. Re-heat every hour. Give her a second calcium around noon if she hasn't passed the obstruction. Also be aware that often two back to back eggs are involved. If one comes out, another may be an hour behind it.

 

[azygous]

Her stress level is building. Encourage her to drink the sugar water. Keep things quiet around her.

 

[azygous]

Is her vent moist? If it seems dry, spray some warm water on it.

Do you have a vet? One you can work with? She could use an injection of oxytocin to push her into contractions that the calcium alone may not be accomplishing.

You do not need to crush the calcium tablet. She can swallow it whole without any problem. It's the only thing right now that's actively working to help her get this egg out.

 

[azygous]

Look at it this way. Not everyone has a $300 chicken. As for this problem becoming chronic, there certainly is that possibility, but her young age puts the odds on her side that she can recover and go on to lay normally.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is good news. @azygous do you recommend that she give more calcium daily for a few days?

 

[Eggcessive]

How much calcium and what kind did you give? Does she full full between her legs, and is it spongy, firm, or tight like a drum?

 

[celliott24]

Sounds good I’ll give her some food. Link below is a video of her now - she really does seem like she’s trying to push an egg out but can’t.

I don’t have a heating pad - should I give her a warm bath, or would a heat lamp work? Any other heating pad hacks with household items?

Video

 

[celliott24]

No egg as of yet - brought her inside for a calmer environment, put a blanket over the kennel, turned the heat pad down as she was panting a ton like she was hot as heck and put some classical music on as ridiculous as that is. I think she is starting to stress as you said. She’s just standing there panting, panting with the occasional whinney sounding trill. Got a little bit of calcium in her but she’s really not having it - I was able to sneak maybe 3 eyedroppers of water into her. Is there a good way to open their beaks solo - do you just have to be super aggressive and firm? It’s hard with only two hands.

 

[celliott24]

Her stance is definitely that of being egg bound. Our mission is now clear. Yes, it would benefit her greatly to get some sugar water into her.

I wrap the chicken in a towel to calm her. I have the water, warmed slightly, ready and an oral syringe. I reach around with my weak hand and pry open the beak by sticking a nail into the beak. I load the syringe and insert it on the chicken's right side of the beak. Then going slightly under the side of the tongue, insert it directly into the esophagus and push out the water.

When you feed the water directly into the crop via the esophagus, there isn't any need for her to swallow. So keep the beak open and continue to feed the water to her until you get at least a fourth of a cup into her. Do it again in about two hours.

I crushed up the calcium pill and managed to syringe probably a quarter cup of water plus the calcium into her about 30 minutes ago. I’ll keep you posted. I also felt around her bottom again and it’s feeling less water balloon-ey and more firm. It’s about the size of an apple. Like an apple wrapped in jelly with a towel around it. And then chicken skin.