Egg membrane stuck in vent

[heahab]

Hi all, I noticed my chicken sitting on top of an egg white and yolk today and noticed what I believe to be the egg membrane hanging from her vent (picture is attached). I pulled the remainder out of her vent after soaking her in some warm water and was wondering how else I should go about cleaning her up. I cleaned the outside vent area with some poultry wash and warm water. I have seen some recommendations of using a douche to clean the inside of the vent to avoid infection but I am worried that the eggshell is still inside of her as I did not see any eggshell around the egg white and yolk. Any advice on how I should go about cleaning her up would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all, I noticed my chicken sitting on top of an egg white and yolk today and noticed what I believe to be the egg membrane hanging from her vent (picture is attached). I pulled the remainder out of her vent after soaking her in some warm water and was wondering how else I should go about cleaning her up. I cleaned the outside vent area with some poultry wash and warm water. I have seen some recommendations of using a douche to clean the inside of the vent to avoid infection but I am worried that the eggshell is still inside of her as I did not see any eggshell around the egg white and yolk. Any advice on how I should go about cleaning her up would be greatly appreciated!

Welcome To BYC


I would not flush inside the vent or administer a douche, you risk flushing bacteria back up into the reproductive system.

I would give her Extra Calcium asap. Give 1 now, then once daily for 7 days. The Extra Calcium can help with contractions and if she has more material, it can help her expel that.
Take a tablet of Calcium Citrate+D3, pull down on her wattles, pop the tablet into the beak and let her swallow.

What you pulled out looks like 2 soft shelled membranes. If you also saw yolk and white had been expelled, that good.

If you are worried about infection or are seeing what looks like yolk or albumen (whites) leaking from the vent, then it would be a very good idea to start an antibiotic. Amoxicillin is a good choice.

Is she eating/drinking? Active? Any signs of lethargy?

Example of Calcium Citrate+D3

 

[heahab]

She is eating and drinking normally and I haven't seen any signs of lethargy. The only behavior out of the normal was that she was sitting on the nest- which I assume is because she was trying to push out the remainder egg membrane. I have been giving her extra calcium in the form of oyster shells but will give her a tablet also. Thank you for the information!