Egg bound????

[junior67]

Early yesterday I noticed one of my girls sitting puffed a bit but it was a cooler day so wasn't sure if that was why. Went out last night and she was still sitting so I went to pick her up and she walked very slowly away with her tail down. Think kind of a penguin stance. Brought her in and did an Epson salt bath and gave her calcium citrate+vitD. Put her in my brooder bin inside. Checked about an hour later and no egg... So gloved up and checked inside her vent and couldn't feel an egg. It was getting late so she settled down for bed so I let her be for the night. I had to work today but gave her a half of another calcium pill before work and put a puppy pad over the shavings so I could see if she pooped. Got home and no egg but she ate, and pooped some but pretty much watery. Did another Epson salt bath about 1.5 hrs ago.... Still no egg. Her vent pulses when I am near it but is that because she thinks I am a roo mating her??? I still don't feel an egg inside her vent but feeling under and around I felt what may have been one in the area behind her leg more to the side than under. Will attach a pic of how she is standing and I tried to get a pic of her vent but the opening is pointing down. She is an almost 3 hr old Brahma.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A penguin stance is when the bird walks upright, pretty much exactly like a penguin. It is very characteristic, there is no mistaking it.

 

[junior67]

This is a pic of her poop she just did.....

 

[junior67]

A penguin stance is when the bird walks upright, pretty much exactly like a penguin. It is very characteristic, there is no mistaking it.

She didn't walk far when I saw her and now the cage she is in is too small for her to really walk. She is waddling and walking very slow. Her stance is more upright if she isn't laying down. I posted a picture of her stance

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Let me tag you some Educators.
@Wyorp Rock
@Eggcessive
@azygous

 

[Wyorp Rock]

she walked very slowly away with her tail down. Think kind of a penguin stance. Brought her in and did an Epson salt bath and gave her calcium citrate+vitD. Put her in my brooder bin inside. Checked about an hour later and no egg... So gloved up and checked inside her vent and couldn't feel an egg.

I had to work today but gave her a half of another calcium pill before work and put a puppy pad over the shavings so I could see if she pooped. Got home and no egg but she ate, and pooped some but pretty much watery. Did another Epson salt bath about 1.5 hrs ago.... Still no egg. Her vent pulses when I am near it but is that because she thinks I am a roo mating her??? I still don't feel an egg inside her vent but feeling under and around I felt what may have been one in the area behind her leg more to the side than under.

I'd give her at least 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 once daily for a week.

The bath, you can do that or leave it off, sometimes it can be very stressful on them, but you are there to determine her overall demeanor.

I would not feel inside the vent anymore, it's not that productive and can be painful for them.
The vent generally pulses, is she seeming to strain or push?

Often the best you can do is give the Calcium and wait to see if she can expel the egg or other material.

If you are feeling a mass or lump behind the leg, if on the left side, you may be feeling her Gizzard. On the right side, perhaps a tumor, some type of mass or internally laid egg. If she's laid internally, this will make her feel bad and she'll have that hunched up appearance, but sometimes over a few days they begin to show they feel better. There's nothing you can do about an internally laid egg, so continue to provide food/water, the calcium and supportive care like you are doing.

 

[TinyChickin]

She didn't walk far when I saw her and now the cage she is in is too small for her to really walk. She is waddling and walking very slow. Her stance is more upright if she isn't laying down. I posted a picture of her stance

this is a 'proper' eggbound penguin stance. I can see you've already gotten some good help here, just thought I'd share the picture for future reference. credit to the website

 

[junior67]

I'd give her at least 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 once daily for a week.

The bath, you can do that or leave it off, sometimes it can be very stressful on them, but you are there to determine her overall demeanor.

I would not feel inside the vent anymore, it's not that productive and can be painful for them.
The vent generally pulses, is she seeming to strain or push?

Often the best you can do is give the Calcium and wait to see if she can expel the egg or other material.

If you are feeling a mass or lump behind the leg, if on the left side, you may be feeling her Gizzard. On the right side, perhaps a tumor, some type of mass or internally laid egg. If she's laid internally, this will make her feel bad and she'll have that hunched up appearance, but sometimes over a few days they begin to show they feel better. There's nothing you can do about an internally laid egg, so continue to provide food/water, the calcium and supportive care like you are doing.

Ok thank you. Whatever I thought I was feeling isn't there any more. She doesn't seem to mind the baths but I was going to give her the calcium citrate and put her out with the flock today and see if a nest box gets things moving.

I don't think I have really noticed any straining or real pushing. I know for sure no eggs since Wed night.

I had one hen that I think was an internal layer her whole life. She was happy most of the time besides right after she seemed to lay then was droopy a few days then perked back up. She passed away when she was a bit over 3.

 

[junior67]

this is a 'proper' eggbound penguin stance. I can see you've already gotten some good help here, just thought I'd share the picture for future reference. credit to the website

I will have to take a pic of her outside. The bin is a bit short so doesn't allow for her to fully stand that way besides the times I am in and have the cover off then she will do that sometimes

 

[junior67]

I took her back out and as soon as she was free she pooped (hadn't pooped since last night) and it looked pretty normal. Then she went and drank. Seems to be walking a bit better/faster and tail not down as much. Guess I see how she does.