Egg bound or something else?

[joduh]

Day 3 and she is still happy, though sitting on the nest a lot still.

 

[micstrachan]

I forgot to tag @casportpony .

 

[Wyorp Rock]

10 month old barred rock has a very swollen abdomen

past two days we have soaked her in baths, fed her Tums, and lubed her vent with KY and Preparation H. I can feel the tip of an egg in her vent about an inch inward.

She is pooping regularly.

she is quite swollen, on her rear behind her legs and below the vent.

Day 3 and she is still happy, though sitting on the nest a lot still.

If she is pooping regularly, then she is not egg bound.

The swelling under the vent behind the legs, to me, is an indication of an internal laying/reproductive disorder. Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, cancer, tumors or Salpingitis are fairly common.

The swelling - does it feel like fluid? If you look at the skin, is there any yellowish pockets of fluid? With Ascites, fluid can sometimes be drained to give short term relief. You do risk infection by doing this - some have success keeping a girl going for several months by draining them regularly. Unfortunately, usually they succumb to infection or organ failure due to stress of the fluid.

Feeling the tip of an egg, you may actually be feeling a mass, tumor, egg, egg matter or lash egg in the abdomen. The oviduct and intestines both connect to the cloaca (vent), so when you are examining her - is the "egg" up or is it down? A lot of people have felt an "egg", but they are really feeling it through tissue and it's in the abdomen.

Since she seems happy within herself, doesn't seemed stressed, then you may want to keep a watch on her - if you can determine if there is fluid - you can try draining, but a vet is a better choice. You will also want to consider antibiotics if you drain, just to help with infection. Unfortunately, if she starts to decline (you will know), then love her up, give supportive care and start considering what your next step may need to be. I've found that once they really start a hard decline, there's not a lot that can be done but to end their suffering.

I'm very sorry, I wish I had better answers and solutions to these problems. I've lost a few hens to repro problems and it's heartbreaking. If you do lose her, have her sent to your state lab or you can do an informal necropsy if you chose, just to see what was going on. I've done this with the girls I have lost, even though I "knew" it was a bit of relief to actually see what was going on in there.

WARNING! THIS THREAD CONTAINS NECROPSY PHOTOS!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fluid-in-belly-with-egg-floating.1202391/

 

[SusanMarieYork]

Give your hen a suprelorin implant.

 

[joduh]

Thanks, all, for your advice! She seems happy, eats well, gossips with her flock and seems content overall. She's one of my son's 4H birds, so she's definitely earned a permanent spot in our flock even if she doesn't lay. We're just grateful she's comfortable for now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the update. I'm glad to hear she is comfortable