Egg bound?? Pullet that hasn’t laid an egg yet

[kalibali04]

I have a red sex link who is about 22 weeks and hasn’t laid her first egg yet.

She has been sitting like a penguin for about 5 days. At first I thought it was because we are battling coccidiosis (again, see below), but it didn’t get better. So I have her in the “hospital” by herself.

1. I just switched them to layer feed yesterday (I know now that I should’ve done that awhile ago)

2. We’ve been battling coccidiosis all summer and fall. They keep getting it over and over again. I’m treating them all again now.

3. They have had access to oyster shells in the run for months.

4. I added extra calcium carbonate powder to her food and water.

5. I’ve felt her belly and around the vent and I don’t feel anything that feels like a stuck egg...but I could be wrong as I don’t know what I’m doing.

6. She is eating, drinking, and acting normal. Not sleepy or lethargic.

7. Last night she was standing more like a normal chicken and I was really excited...but now we’re back to the butt down / penguins stance.

I do not know how to give a shot (which is why I’m giving the calcium carbonate powder that I had at my house).

Any suggestions on what I should do?

 

[DobieLover]

I have a red sex link who is about 22 weeks and hasn’t laid her first egg yet.

She has been sitting like a penguin for about 5 days. At first I thought it was because we are battling coccidiosis (again, see below), but it didn’t get better. So I have her in the “hospital” by herself.

1. I just switched them to layer feed yesterday (I know now that I should’ve done that awhile ago)

2. We’ve been battling coccidiosis all summer and fall. They keep getting it over and over again. I’m treating them all again now.

3. They have had access to oyster shells in the run for months.

4. I added extra calcium carbonate powder to her food and water.

5. I’ve felt her belly and around the vent and I don’t feel anything that feels like a stuck egg...but I could be wrong as I don’t know what I’m doing.

6. She is eating, drinking, and acting normal. Not sleepy or lethargic.

7. Last night she was standing more like a normal chicken and I was really excited...but now we’re back to the butt down / penguins stance.

I do not know how to give a shot (which is why I’m giving the calcium carbonate powder that I had at my house).

Any suggestions on what I should do?

Have you soaked her in a warm bath to help her relax and pass the egg? You'll have to dry her and keep her inside in a warm area during her treatment.
Have you inserted a lubricated finger into her vent about 2" in to feel for a stuck egg?
Is she pooping?
I would get human calcium citrate tablets, break it in half and pop both pieces into her beak one at a time. If you can't get it down, crush one tablet and mix it with some baby food or applesauce and feed it to her that way if she is willingly eating.
It is very unusual for coccidiosis infection to continually recur. How do you manage your flock? Is their coop and run dry and kept clean?

 

[kalibali04]

Coop and run is clean and dry. I don’t know why they keep getting it. It has been so frustrating and heartbreaking. It was confirmed at the vet in the end of September and now it’s back again. We had chickens years ago and never had one issue. This year (a new property) has been riddled with one problem after the next.

She is pooping normally (actually seems like a lot maybe, but I don’t know how this specific chicken normally poops).

I haven’t tried to feel internally...I’ll do my best to try that.

I will also try soaking her in a warm bath. She’s pretty feisty so I’m not sure how relaxed she’ll be, but I’ll give it a shot. And get some calcium citrate.

Have you soaked her in a warm bath to help her relax and pass the egg? You'll have to dry her and keep her inside in a warm area during her treatment.
Have you inserted a lubricated finger into her vent about 2" in to feel for a stuck egg?
Is she pooping?
I would get human calcium citrate tablets, break it in half and pop both pieces into her beak one at a time. If you can't get it down, crush one tablet and mix it with some baby food or applesauce and feed it to her that way if she is willingly eating.
It is very unusual for coccidiosis infection to continually recur. How do you manage your flock? Is their coop and run dry and kept clean?

 

[kalibali04]

Ok. Did the warm bath and put a finger in her vent.

I didn’t find anything hard internally. I’m not an expert, but everything seemed like I would guess it should. She pooped a bunch during the vent check, so that re-confirms that she’s pooping.

I have to run and grab the calcium citrate so I will report back after I’m done with that.

Have you soaked her in a warm bath to help her relax and pass the egg? You'll have to dry her and keep her inside in a warm area during her treatment.
Have you inserted a lubricated finger into her vent about 2" in to feel for a stuck egg?
Is she pooping?
I would get human calcium citrate tablets, break it in half and pop both pieces into her beak one at a time. If you can't get it down, crush one tablet and mix it with some baby food or applesauce and feed it to her that way if she is willingly eating.
It is very unusual for coccidiosis infection to continually recur. How do you manage your flock? Is their coop and run dry and kept clean?

 

[kalibali04]

I got calcium citrate. 200 mg of calcium per pill. I cut one in half and gave her both pieces. Should I give her more?

Have you soaked her in a warm bath to help her relax and pass the egg? You'll have to dry her and keep her inside in a warm area during her treatment.
Have you inserted a lubricated finger into her vent about 2" in to feel for a stuck egg?
Is she pooping?
I would get human calcium citrate tablets, break it in half and pop both pieces into her beak one at a time. If you can't get it down, crush one tablet and mix it with some baby food or applesauce and feed it to her that way if she is willingly eating.
It is very unusual for coccidiosis infection to continually recur. How do you manage your flock? Is their coop and run dry and kept clean?

 

[DobieLover]

I got calcium citrate. 200 mg of calcium per pill. I cut one in half and gave her both pieces. Should I give her more?

Give that to her once daily and continue with the warm baths twice daily until she lays.

 

[kalibali04]

Thank you!! She seems to be standing more normal today. I will continue. I really, really appreciate your guidance!

Give that to her once daily and continue with the warm baths twice daily until she lays.

 

[yardranger]

Similar problem here! Dottie, my 17 week old Speckled Sussex was in penguin stance, stiff walk and staying away from the flock for about 2 days. She has not laid yet and neither has my other pullet same age. I took her inside on Sunday 10/30 and tried to feel for a bound egg - didn’t feel it with my finger in her vent and her abdomen seemed normal. Yesterday I checked again and thought there was a hard lump and she seemed to call out as if it hurt when I gently massaged there. But still nothing near her vent.

So far I have put preparation H in and around her vent, fed her a crushed tum in yogurt daily since Sunday and was about to try epsom salt bath this morning. But, she seems better! She’s been eating drinking & pooping, and last night and today she did cecal poop too She’s standing slightly more upright as well.

I don’t feel sure that she’s actually egg bound but I can’t imagine what else is happening. I’d love any insight as I continue to keep her warm & inside away from the flock for now!