Egg bound RLW

LowellOhio

Hatching
Dec 4, 2015
1
0
7
Good morning all.

We have an issue and I'm not sure what to do.

We have a RLW that has been behaving oddly the past few days. She's very lethargic, and is hanging out in the nest box a lot. I moved her to our quarantine cage night before last. At first I thought she was just getting beat on by one of the roosters but now I'm thinking she may be egg bound. I also just received a text from my wife that another of our RLW hens has an egg stuck and is prolapsed.

I don't know how bad the prolapse is as she did not send pictures. She said that there is another RLW in the nest box this morning (which is not typical but not alarming). This has us wondering why now? We've not had an issue with any laying until just recently.

Over the past 2 weeks our egg production has gone from almost 7 eggs a day to just 2 eggs last night. I'm concerned I'm missing something. We picked up a couple of bags of layer mash from a different local feed mill to fill in for the rest of the month because we couldn't make it to our normal feed supplier in a pinch. They have a steady supply of oyster shell at their disposal, fresh water, and feed.

I contributed the egg production change to the shorter days, but now I'm not so sure.

My first plan of attack is to get more of their normal feed tonight and hope that this helps.

Now for the other two that we know are having issues. Here is my plan of attack.

Unfortunately, my wife and I both work so I'll have to do this when I get home as neither of us can leave work to do it sooner. The prolapsed bird I plan on soaking and giving her some extra calcium to help get things moving. The other egg bound bird I suppose the trying to soak her (and calcium) as well. IF that is not successful then the next approach would be to try to lubricate the bound egg and get it moving that way.

Any other thoughts? We want to do what is best for them but this is new territory for us.

Thanks in advance!

Lowell in Ohio
 
Welcome to BYC! It's possible that they aren't drinking enough water. To lay properly, a hen needs to drink a lot of water... I think it's something like 15% of their body weight per day.

-Kathy
 
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When one of mine is egg bound I give it fluids via a tube and calcium gluconate orally at 50 mg per pound. Then I place them in a warm bathroom that I've filled with steam. Be very careful if you decide to bathe then as doing it can kill them if they are ill.

Can you take them to a vet?

-Kathy
 
I helped one of my hens wedn being eggbound. A good soaking for 20 minutes in warm bath massaged her aa she sat there. I put her in a tote dryin her off picked her up to get under feathers there was her egg. A few minutes later there was just a liner. Today is friday and she still has not layed should i be worried again? I was just out there they all are good,alert,movin around crazy lol
 
I helped one of my hens wedn being eggbound. A good soaking for 20 minutes in warm bath massaged her aa she sat there. I put her in a tote dryin her off picked her up to get under feathers there was her egg. A few minutes later there was just a liner. Today is friday and she still has not layed should i be worried again? I was just out there they all are good,alert,movin around crazy lol


Welcome to BYC! Keep a close eye on her and make sure she has access to plenty of fresh water and oyster shell.

-Kathy
 

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