Egg Bound?

[JeremiahBlack]

I have a small breed chicken who started displaying signs of lethargy last night. We picked her up this morning and she had pasty butt, and in the process of washing her, she had a large egg shaped protrusion prolapsing out of her vent. We did some research and have her soaking in warm water and massaging her vent area. The vent doesn't seem to have any problem expanding to accommodate, but the egg duct doesn't seem to want to expand. We're getting some calcium gluconate for oral administration to assist in muscle relaxation. Any other suggestions?

 

[Tara Black]

Anyone with any suggestions?! I don't want to lose my girl

 

[Eggcessive]

She obviously has a prolapsed vent, but she could also be egg bound. Can you insert a lubricated finger (put on a rubber glove) into the vent to check for a stuck egg. If there is an egg, soak her in a very warm bath up to her wings for 30 minutes to relax her, and give her the calcium. If no egg is felt, get some honey and try very hard to push the prolapse back inside. It will probably come out with a bowel movement or an egg, but keep pushing it back inside, and keep it clean.

 

[Eggcessive]

To stop her from laying eggs while her prolapse is healing, you should place her in a darkened cage with food and water, and cover it or place in a dark room for 16 hours a day. It takes 2-3 days for the laying to cease. Besides honey, Preparation H can also help to shrink the prolapse. Here are some links for you
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/prolapse-vent-causes-treatment-graphic.html
http://www.avianweb.com/eggbinding.html
http://www.avianweb.com/Prolapse.htm

 

[JeremiahBlack]

Kept her in a bath for ~45 min. Massaged her vent and the prolapsed egg duct, and the opening where the blockage is will only spread about 2-3mm. The surface of the blockage (egg/feces) feels like sand paper and slightly pliable. She appears to be passing feces from around the prolapse which leads me toward a stuck egg. Right now we have her in a small broody bin with a heat lamp and she's damp from the soak. I put Vaseline around the vent/duct area to keep it moist, and prior to putting her in the bin, we switched to mineral oil.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would keep trying to push the pink tissue back inside. The longer it stays out, the harder it is to get back in, and the tissue dries out. I'm not saying there isn't an egg, but prolapse occurs a good deal of the time without egg binding. Good luck.

 

[JeremiahBlack]

Thank you for the help.

 

[JeremiahBlack]

Sad to say, but she didn't make it. I did a quick 'autopsy' and it was an under-formed egg. I appreciate all the help none the less.

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh, so sorry to hear that and for your loss.