Egg broke inside hen, prevent peritonitis?

[littlefarmgirl9]

Today my Black Australorp, Penny, was walking kind of strangely. Her tail was sticking up, but she still was a bit slower than the others at eating and drinking. She looked a bit like she had to poop, slightly bloated, which was odd--Penny has always been skinny especially for her breed. I was gone from my house most of the day, but when I came home Penny was still kind of off. I observed her for a bit. Then I saw two eggs in the same nest box, and also a puddle of egg whites, or sticky clear poop. It wasn't on the surrounding wood shavings though, which I found odd, but I wasn't sure Penny had much to do with it. Also, my chickens didn't smell like eggs, so I figured they didn't crush one and eat the shell.
Eventually, after inspecting Penny's vent, I saw her preening back there, coaxing out whitish poop, one tiny drop at a time. Penny was also straining for breath like they do while they're laying. So, I picked her up and stuck my finger up there, trying to feel for egg bound-ness. Soon, I felt a hard bit that was not a full egg, so I did my best to pull it out. Bit by bit, I got out quite a lot of egg shell, all covered in yolk and goo. Penny wiggled a bit, but waited until I put her down to start preening her vent feathers. I could not feel any more shell, but did pull out a bit more yolk. Then I washed her vent feathers with hand soap in scalding water. (It was a bit too warm; her vent was slightly red, but oh well.)
Penny immediately looked better, eating, drinking, and perking up! However, I have read about peritonitis resulting from this. I don't think we have much of a chicken vet around here, so here's my question: is there anything I can do to prevent peritonitis bacteria growing in her?
Thank you so much for reading this! I know it's a bit long.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would just let her be. I once recommended flushing the vent with a weak vinegar solution after a few others had said to do that, but it could possibly flush bacteria from the cloaca up into the oviduct, and that could make it worse. So just provide layer feed, and supply crushed oystershell or egg shells to help firm up egg shells. Young pullets may lay soft shell eggs, and some diseases such as infectious bronchitis can cause shell-less eggs.

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

Thank you. Penny doesn't eat a lot since she's really picky, so she misses all the eggshells I mix in our layer feed. I agree about the soft shells; Penny's never had too much calcium and has always laid soft eggs, although she is two years old now.
So in your opinion, I shouldn't try any home remedies, or add anything to the water?

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

@Eggcessive I am a bit worried, because I won't be home much tomorrow. Penny is still a bit slow, off and on. Her tail is up but her head is kind of tucked in. She has eaten and drunk normally today. Penny was in the box for about an hour, but she didn't lay. When she came out of the box she was a bit slow. Penny has done that before, not laying while she's in there, but she is acting a bit odd still. I couldn't feel an egg or any bits of shell up her vent after she was in the box. I saw her with her vent open, standing over a totally normal poop that I'm almost positive was hers. Could she be egg bound, even though she stands normally? I'm a bit worried, so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Eggcessive]

You could give her a Tums or a 1/2 human calcium tablet given whole in the back of the throat, or crushed in some yogurt, and some use calcium gluconate from the feed store, but you will need to look up a dosage. I have heard others say their hens act sickly after something like this, and rubber eggs can be hard to lay. Since you checked for anything in her vent, she may not be egg bound. See if she will drink some fluids or Gatorade for you. Offer chopped egg or a bit of tuna to get her eating. If she has had this sort of thing going on for awhile she could be laying internally or suffering from egg yolk peritonitis, but I hope this is just something temporary.

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

It hasn't been going on for a while. I don't know if this is what you meant, but the egg I got out of her did have a regular, although thin, shell. I went out to the coop and she was sitting down. She stood up when the others ran out, and her tail was straight and level. I picked her up and felt for an egg again, but there was nothing. When I pulled my finger out there was a lot of white and clear urates, with a smatter of brown. When Penny is outside she's just running with the others. So Gatorade, or maybe electrolytes? Thank you SO MUCH! I'm just worried about tomorrow ...

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

You could give her a Tums or a 1/2 human calcium tablet given whole in the back of the throat, or crushed in some yogurt, and some use calcium gluconate from the feed store, but you will need to look up a dosage. I have heard others say their hens act sickly after something like this, and rubber eggs can be hard to lay. Since you checked for anything in her vent, she may not be egg bound. See if she will drink some fluids or Gatorade for you. Offer chopped egg or a bit of tuna to get her eating. If she has had this sort of thing going on for awhile she could be laying internally or suffering from egg yolk peritonitis, but I hope this is just something temporary.

Ok, update, Penny was great outside. She looked normal. Anything else I should do, since she won't get out tomorrow?

 

[theoldchick]

Normally after a cleaning out a broken egg the hen should be put on antibiotics for 7-10 days.