Egg bound? Xray included

[kle2684]

Looking for insight. I am a licensed veterinary technician with questions about my own bird. She laid on Monday and did not lay yesterday. Last night she looked like she didnt feel well but it has been hot here so I thought that maybe she was just uncomfortable. This morning she was dripping a clear fluid from her vent and did not come out of the coop. Her wings were dropped and eyes closed. Did a digital exam and I can feel an egg but it doesn't feel hard like I expected (she has laid two soft shelled eggs in the last 6 weeks). She has always been healthy and laid 5-6 eggs per week. I have attached her xray from today. Thoughts? We do not see birds in the practice I work in ....

 

[lena_]

Looking for insight. I am a licensed veterinary technician with questions about my own bird. She laid on Monday and did not lay yesterday. Last night she looked like she didnt feel well but it has been hot here so I thought that maybe she was just uncomfortable. This morning she was dripping a clear fluid from her vent and did not come out of the coop. Her wings were dropped and eyes closed. Did a digital exam and I can feel an egg but it doesn't feel hard like I expected (she has laid two soft shelled eggs in the last 6 weeks). She has always been healthy and laid 5-6 eggs per week. I have attached her xray from today. Thoughts? We do not see birds in the practice I work in ....View attachment 1465279

I'm no expert, but the area I have circled in green looks like an egg.

 

[rebrascora]

Laying soft shelled or shell less eggs can be incredibly hard on them. Giving a calcium supplement may help her to push it out as well as top up her shell gland.
I'm guessing from that photo that she may be struggling to poop although it is not that clear how close to her vent the egg is.
The clear fluid may just be urates due to drinking a lot to cool down as a result of the heat. If it was egg material, the egg would appear slightly collapsed on the x ray and it looks intact to me. I would be continuing with the Epsom salts soaks and perhaps a calcium injection to get it into her blood stream quicker since her digestive system may be slowed due to that egg backing her up, and oral supplementation may take to long to get into her system and perhaps lubrication and gentle massage of her vent.
You might also want to assess her diet if this is becoming a regular issue. Not saying diet is the problem, as other things can cause soft shells and egg binding, but diet can certainly be a factor. Age is another and breed is also relevant.
Those are my thoughts. I hope she manages to expel it and feels more comfortable soon.

 

[kle2684]

Thank you SO much. Kicking myself because I changed her food the last time I bought it about 4 weeks ago . Hoping she passes this and we can get her back to feeling herself!

 

[rebrascora]

I would be curious to know what you changed from and to as regards feed?? Are they both pellets or crumbles or did you change to a whole grain feed or mash? Treats are also important to consider. It is easy to become overly generous and people often do not realise that the more treats they feed, the less of their balanced ration they will eat, so that the treats essentially dilute the important elements of their main feed. Scratch and corn are particularly bad for that but some green veggies in excess can prevent the absorption of calcium by the hen, so those are also important to consider.
Keeping for her. If she becomes unable to poop and doesn't clear it soon, you might want to consider breaking it to get it out as she will die of toxic shock if her body cannot eliminate waste. If you have to break it, you might need to start her on an antibiotic to prevent infection but I would give her a chance to pass it naturally if possible.

Another thing to consider is that thick fatty abdominal deposits can lead to egg binding and/or prolapse as well as other reproductive and general health issues and are usually caused by too much carbohydrate in the diet and not enough exercise. Feeding a higher protein feed can sometimes be helpful, particularly with heavier breed birds like Orpingtons and Sussex etc.... not sure if that is relevant in this case.