Egg broke inside chiken

[Bluepheonix13255]

She's been egg bound for a couple days, and couldn't walk I assume cause of where the egg was In her. Checked today and Our other chickens were trying to kill her seemingly. Got to her before they did, but upon checking there's a fluid where the egg should be. I'm certain that egg has broke. I have no idea what to do- I feel I don't know enough to go poking around in her vent. How do I go about this process?

 

[FunClucks]

I believe it to be fluid, as she does appear swollen, and when prodded it's "all give"- there's nothing solid. The fluid is built up from just under her right hip- the direction she's been leaning- to the area half an inch under her vent. I haven't watched egg come out of her but she's sticky on the underside like she's gotten egg on her. That being said I have not seen it as it was happening. Regarding the not eating- thanks for the explanation; we can't free range- but now that's she's in the grass (she's sitting in my front yard for right now) she's feasting, so I think she'll be okay on that front at least.

Sounds like your bird may have ascites aka water belly. This is a symptom of something wrong with the reproductive tract or liver(?), often cancer. Birds with ascites don't recover, but will eventually succumb to whatever underlying condition caused the ascites. You can give antibiotics and see if things will clear up. You can remove fluid from her belly (there's threads and Articles on this site on how to do that). But if it is indeed ascites as a symptom of reproductive issues, odds are very high that she will not improve long term. If this were my bird, I would try to treat her and see if she gets better, if so, I might expect a few more months with her, but either now (if she doesn't respond to treatment) or in a few months (when her belly fills with water again), I would put her down. Basically, with ascites, you know the end is coming, and you have time to say goodbye.

In the short term, you can offer cooked egg yolk or cooked scrambled eggs, or yogurt to try to stimulate her appetite. Also moistened commercial feed (applesauce consistency) can tempt them to eat.

I'm so sorry you and your hen are going through this.

 

[Eggcessive]

It does sound like she is having a reproductive problem, and possibly has ascites or water belly which is related. I would agree that just the outside of her vent needs to be cleaned up, so that flies don’t lay maggot larvae around her vent. Flystrike is deadly. Calcium may help if she has eggs in production, to help pass them. You can try to make her comfortable, offer wet chicken feed and some watery scrambled egg, but she may not live a very long life. Is her crop empty, full, puffy or firm? The crop may not function well if her lower belly is swollen. If others pick on her, she needs to be kept separate, such as in a dog crate with food and water.

 

[FunClucks]

I bring my chickens inside and bathe them in my tub in the bathroom. That way I can control the water temp better and rinse as much as I like. The ones I've bathed so far tolerated it surprisingly well. A moderately stiff bristle brush for feet and legs is helpful.

I use non-flea killing pet shampoo or baby shampoo to wash the poop out of the feathers. Could probably also use some mild dish soap to cut the grease in order to get the dirt out. I haven't washed much around their heads/eyes, and try to do as quickly as possible to reduce stress.

hair dryers are great to dry off, make sure you lift up the outer feathers to dry the undercoat/underfeathers. I oscillate the hair dryer so as not to burn or overheat their skin and take frequent breaks from drying.

 

[FunClucks]

Oh no! That's not good.

Likelihood is high that your hen may need an antibiotic, since an egg broke inside of her. Can you take her to the vet?

How old is she and what breed? What do you feed her? If she's had issues being eggbound before, they may continue.

For a stuck egg, giving her 600 mg human calcium citrate with vitamin D tablets once a day until she passes the egg, and for a few days afterwards, is what folks often recommend. For a broken egg, you may also need to do this to help her pass it, but I'm not sure. Let's see if more knowledgeable folks answer your post soon, if not, I'll tag a few people.

So sorry about your hen!

 

[Saveria]

she's feasting

That is a good sign.

A swollen abdomen means trouble, sadly, but I am glad she perked up a bit once she was alone. Is she walking okay now? I would just try to make her as comfortable as possible.

How do I actually clean inside her vent?

I prefer to administer calcium and antibiotic and let the medicines do their work. That way I won't introduce more bacteria.

 

[Bluepheonix13255]

Sounds like your bird may have ascites aka water belly. This is a symptom of something wrong with the reproductive tract or liver(?), often cancer. Birds with ascites don't recover, but will eventually succumb to whatever underlying condition caused the ascites. You can give antibiotics and see if things will clear up. You can remove fluid from her belly (there's threads and Articles on this site on how to do that). But if it is indeed ascites as a symptom of reproductive issues, odds are very high that she will not improve long term. If this were my bird, I would try to treat her and see if she gets better, if so, I might expect a few more months with her, but either now (if she doesn't respond to treatment) or in a few months (when her belly fills with water again), I would put her down. Basically, with ascites, you know the end is coming, and you have time to say goodbye.

In the short term, you can offer cooked egg yolk or cooked scrambled eggs, or yogurt to try to stimulate her appetite. Also moistened commercial feed (applesauce consistency) can tempt them to eat.

I'm so sorry you and your hen are going through this.

I was sort of worried about underlying conditions. Honestly it's sort of a relief that I'll at least know. Bad as it is, at least she won't have to suffer because of my ignorance. Thank you for letting me know.

 

[Sammster]

I'm sorry for you and your girl

 

[Bluepheonix13255]

I feel these details could be relevant, but thought if them after the initial post.
She's right around 2 years old, and was egg bound less than a month ago.
She's sitting mostly by leaning on her side with her leg cocked out behind her, and tries to balance with her wings when disturbed. I'm sure she was egg bound a couple days ago- there is now fluid right around where the egg was and she's visually moderately bloated around there. What poop I can observe is mostly a light green and is diarrhea.

 

[Saveria]

Birds that are egg bound can still walk, almost all the way up till the end, so it kind of sounds like there is more going on. That poop means that she hasn't been eating. If an egg broke inside of her you will actually see egg insides coming out of her, maybe even shell, when they start to expel it.

there's a fluid where the egg should be.

Do you mean that he abdomen feels swollen and squishy, or that there is fluid in her vent internally?

For a broken egg, you may also need to do this to help her pass it, but I'm not sure.

Yes, calcium helps in that situation as well, but you would also want to give aquamox to avoid infection. I believe it is on pill a day, but we should double check that.

https://www.chewy.com/midland-vet-services-aqua-mox/dp/344723