- Dec 14, 2013
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Ok folks, I can't seem to figure out what's going on with my hen. She is about 3 years old and I don't know if she lays eggs anymore. We have a mix of backyard hens and I never know who is laying and who isn't. Anyway, I noticed about 5 days ago that when I would close up the coop at night she would be in a nesting box instead of roosting. Then about 3 days ago I looked out and she was waddling, unable to lift up her rear. Her toes were also turned inward a bit. I brought her inside for observation. She started eating and drinking like crazy, right out of my hand. I checked her vent and it looks normal but it looked like there was an egg shape near the vent. Thinking she was eggbound, I soaked her in the warm bath (3 times), applied lubricant to her vent, massaged her, put her in a warm dark place and waited. Nothing. No egg, not dead. Day 2, I got some liquid vitamins and added that to her water. She still "looks" good - eyes fine, color in her comb, etc. But she likes to stay in her little nesting box i made for her and reaches over to eat and drink (the bowls are elevated to her level). She's making little chicken sounds, but not very loud. I started to think it might be EYP because the bulge was getting bigger. After some research I thought about draining the bulge but most of what I read said the condition would come back anyway. So I decided to get ready to end her life since it seems like she wasn't walking, or laying eggs and would likely starve if put back with the other. what kind of life is that?
Now day 3 of being inside and I just checked on her (its been 24 hours since I gave her vitamins) and she seems to be lifting her butt up again and the bulge seems to be getting smaller. What the heck???? Did the fluid absorb back into her body? Anyone know what is going on? I don't want to put her down if she is going to recover soon, but I'm also not going to keep her alive in a cage in my house - she is a chicken after all.
Help!
Now day 3 of being inside and I just checked on her (its been 24 hours since I gave her vitamins) and she seems to be lifting her butt up again and the bulge seems to be getting smaller. What the heck???? Did the fluid absorb back into her body? Anyone know what is going on? I don't want to put her down if she is going to recover soon, but I'm also not going to keep her alive in a cage in my house - she is a chicken after all.
Help!
