Hello! I think one of my girls may be egg bound. She spent an unusual amount of time trying to lay today and I thought she might be going broody so I coaxed her off the nest and outside only to see what looked like a piece of tape hanging from her vent. Upon further inspection, it appears to be a bloom? I pulled on it and it was definitely attached to something, but I didn't want to pull too hard so I just snipped it off. To make things clear, I have seen no yolk in her poop or the outside of her vent, I can no longer see what was possibly the bloom, and at no point have I seen any shell. She is drinking, not so interested in eating. I did a bit of research and decided to use warm rags to soften up her vent, then I did a vinegar water flush thinking it would help get any yolk or egg white out of her. That was about 2 hours ago. She had another try on the nest box, and now is just standing around listless. She seems a bit lethargic and her tail feathers are slumped when they are usually erect. I'm a bit lost as to what to try next. I don't think there is an actual egg stuck in her, since she laid yesterday and I saw the bloom come out today. But she definitely wants to get something out! Any advice would be a gift! Thank you
Welcome to BYC. What you saw hanging from her vent may have been an egg membrane without the shell. The egg may have broken inside. The bloom is a liquid substance secreted on the egg as it is laid. I would put on a rubber glove, apply some lubricant if needed, and poke a finger inside the vent an inch or two until you meet resistance, and try to get the rest of the membrane out. She may pass it in her droppings. There is nothing more that can be done. I would just make sure that she is drinking fluids by tomorrow, and later eating. Hens who have eggs break inside might be at risk later for egg yolk peritonitis.
Oops! I did call it a bloom but yes, i meant the membrane with no shell. She seems to be doing better this morning, but the dropping i saw was verg tiny and still watery. I have seen so much advice on what to do if an actual egg is stuck, but not so much on what yo do with just a membrane, so thank you. I dont know why i didnt think to just have a poke around and see if there is more to come out. Do you think continuing a vinegar flush for a few days could help with the potential yolk inside of her? ( i dont know for sure if the egg/yolk came out of her yesterday before i realized sometjimg was wrong)
