Egg bound tiny serama hen

[Cragg Klefor]

I would try get her to the vet. It may not be an egg....could be infection/tumour. There's not much more you can do apart from what you have been doing already for her, poor girl.

 

[anniep]

I wish I had answers but I'm praying your little girl passes her egg...

 

[Bocktobery 10]

While pushing yesterday, a bit of what appears to be lash came out. Not a good sign.

I tried to contact my vet yesterday- I’m not sure but I think they are closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The phone lines were constantly off the hook. They typically have an automated messaging system. I was able to contact an avian vet (who is in my state but hours away) on the phone and spoke with him, telling him the situation. He gave me some good advice regarding her needs and so I’ve been following that. Still not a whole lot of luck, and last night after trying to help push it out again, she started to look tired and sore and I decided to let her rest for the evening, knowing I’m typically too heavy handed.

This morning she seemed much better. I put her in front of some food and water and she ate quite a substantial amount and drank quite a bit of water. Yesterday, she wouldn’t touch it, so I don’t know if this is a good sign or not.

She is able to poop still, but it comes out in squiggles. IF I’m seeing urates ,and not just white antibodies in mucus, it seems to be separate from the fecal matter. Her fecal matter has some brown mixed with slight green tinge...so shes getting some nutrients and it’s not just bile coming out. She’s not panting or looking listless..but she’s understandably staying still. I’m trying to let her rest a lot in between tries. I am putting K Y jelly in her vent, hoping it will loosen things up, but I’m not sure it’s going in the egg tube parts or her fecal matter tube part. Does it matter? Will it seep into all parts back there everywhere? Also is it safe to keep putting more if that in there? I have been able to move the egg from the bottom up to the vent. Just can’t get it to crown at the opening yet.

I’m keeping her in a round soft cat bed with a heating pad in it-all covered of course with a towel for easy cleaning and I’ve put a towel over the opening (with some gap for allowing for air to come through) to keep the light out so as not to stimulate egg laying. I put preparation H into her vent...unfortunately she had the urge to poop most of it out, but I did manage to get some in there. There’s no visible prolapse now, but when she (and help from me too) pushes the egg it appears she is prolapsed. There’s really red fleshy stuff pushing out instead of the egg. Is this what’s blocking the egg?

I wish I could take photos of what’s occurring back there because I don’t know what I’m seeing. I’m confused as to how the egg is trying to come out it seems like it’s coming from the wrong direction but then again I don’t know anything really how the anatomy of a chicken is. The egg is coming from below, but diagrams show the egg-making organs at the top (back) of the hen? The egg appears to be coming from the right hand side if looking at the vent. Is that normal? When she’s pushing and prolapsing, there’s something that looks like it could be the opening fir the tube which the eggs come out. It looks like a ring with lighter colored bumps around it. If I recall correctly, it reminds me of what you see when checking chick vents for sexing them. I’m wondering if this is where the egg comes out? If so, I could try and push the egg in that direction or maybe put something in that (something dull and soft maybe?) to try and create an opening for the egg while pushing the prolapse back in. ???

Anyway.. going to keep trying. She appears to know I’m helping. As soon as I put my hands back there she pushes. She is not pushing at any other time. . I’d love to get her to a vet but the only vet around that sees chickens is not open.

sorry for all the questions and wordiness.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

I wish I had answers but I'm praying your little girl passes her egg...

Thank you so much!

 

[Bocktobery 10]

I would try get her to the vet. It may not be an egg....could be infection/tumour. There's not much more you can do apart from what you have been doing already for her, poor girl.

Yeah..I hear you. I’m wondering if there’s some bit of strange shaped lash in there, or as you say a tumor. An x-ray would help substantially to know what’s going on inside.

Regarding the possibility of infection, do you think giving her an antibiotic would be a good idea at this point? Again, I guess a vet would know.

It would be great if most vets would see chickens. Avian vets are hard to find and super expensive...it’s just not practical for chickens.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

She peeks out when she’s hungry or thirsty . (Or perhaps maybe too hot).

She is eating now. As you can tell her wings are droopy and her tail is down.

I tried taking a photo of her vent and the lump where the egg is, but there’s nothing to see in the photo really. You can’t see it, but the slight bulge is to the lower right.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

I was able to get a hold of my vet and just got off the phone with her.. my hen will be able to be seen tomorrow morning.

She ate very well for me today. She also did some substantial poops. Just going to keep her comfy, warm and rested for now. Hopefully it will go well tomorrow. Fingers crossed she’ll be ok. In the meantime, I’m going to stop trying to help the egg out.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

I'm rooting for you and your hen!!! Hope she is okay! Glad you are able to see the vet.

 

[anniep]

I've been watching this closely as I'm having the exact same problem. My hen is a 7 month old Serama. She is one of the tiny ones. Maybe 13 ounces. Her eggs have been big for her size.. my avian vet is closed due to covid. So I'm watching your thread and have been trying the things you're trying... it's awful. Also the emergency vet here denied her because they said they dont know chickens.... . I can barely fit my pinky in her vent but I've been doing the ky like you... and baths... nothing has worked. Trying to decide what to do in the morning.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

She’s at the vet now. Just dropped her off.

Please everyone say a little prayer for her. Picking her up at noon.

I’ll keep posting updates.