Egg bound

[Dazedandconfused]

I have read many questions regarding a chick being eggbound but haven’t seen this question. My 6 month old is getting egg bound. My question is how long after I can exteriorly palpate an egg should she lay it? I usually feel one as soon as she lays one and I can’t with the other girls.
thanks!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Classic egg bound behavior will include straining on the nest, hesitation to get off the nest, huddling, and the common penguin like walk.

I don't let a bird go long being egg bound. If I note a bird is struggling, I obviously give them some time as NO egg laying is comfortable, per se. Many birds strain a bit to pass an egg. However, if she seems distressed and overly long for a number of hours, then I intervene. I wouldn't let an obvious egg bound situation go beyond 24 hours. Give her time (6 to 8 hours), then intervene.

Holding her in one arm while gently palpitating her abdomen often does the trick to help it pass. That's the best method. She passes it herself. If she can't get it out, then you have to bring her into the house, submerge her in warm water, and see if that helps her pass it. Usually sitting in the warm water does the trick all on its own and it relaxes her muscles.

Last resort is to try to gently, carefully break the egg inside her, so she can expel it. For obvious reasons this is a last resort as you can harm her, and it can be difficult to get all the pieces out.

Hopefully she will be able to clear it soon.

Be sure she is getting enough calcium. Good hard shells help eggs to pass. If her shells are soft at all, they will more easily get egg bound.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I must add that if this is a bird who habitually gets egg bound, there is likely something wrong with her egg tract, possibly an infection causing swelling.

But if this is the occasional egg binding, giving it a few hours (half a day) to work out, then stepping in can be reasonable.

LofMc

 

[Dazedandconfused]

She has gotten egg bound before. when she exhibits the behavior u mention, I have intervened and she will pass a half formed egg then one with the membrane only soon after. I have started making sure she is eating calcium by giving her eggshells. There are oyster shells always available. None of the 13 others are having an issue and all shells are hard.
But if I can palpate the egg, shouldn’t it be ready to come out? I need to know if I should intervene sooner instead of waiting until she is off her feed, not drinking, etc? And I have never seen her on a nest But she will lay soon after bringing her inside.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Your first post did not state she has stopped eating and drinking in distress. Yes of course intervene if she is in distress...but also please consider taking her to the vet as frequent egg binding is a sign of internal problems...sadly with not usually easy fixes.

Once or possibly twice egg binding in a hen might be expected especially at start of her laying season, but most healthy hen's never have a problem.

I do better on dedicated layer feed than oyster shell in creating strong shells. Soft shell eggs are very hard to pass. If she is a commercial layer breed she especially needs layer feed and calcium oyster shell or egg shell as her body burns through calcium.

But constant soft eggs when diet is plentiful in calcium indicates a shell gland malfunction or egg tract issues.

LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Also constant fullness in the abdomen may be fluid build up, another sign of internal illness, which may explain the poor laying, and no eating or drinking.

LofMc

 

[Dazedandconfused]

Thank you All. I believe it is an internal problem for her because it is happening frequently. She has passed a few regular eggs but most are soft shell. She spends her days out with the flock but I bring her in at night and she will lay then but if I leave her out with them overnight she becomes bound. The flock has all been mean to her since she was a new hatchling. I think maybe they sensed she was “different”. im gonna try the tums. Or more crushed eggshell in yogurt.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If possible, get some Caltrate with D3 and give her 1/2 tablet a day for 3-5 days to see if that helps. I do give mine TUMS in an emergency, but prefer Caltrate.