Eggbound hen - am I crazy to pay a vet $150?

[Beekissed]

I'll be the first to say it, I guess,

....not that I necessarily think you are crazy, but it certainly isn't a thing that I would do.

 

[BWchicken]

Ace, I think it's a possibility that we may really be Crazy Chicken Ladies. LOL. But that's okay, I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks for posting the pic, Avril is a pretty girl and I really hope she comes out of this ok.

Ginger used to do that, going into the nest box and no egg. And you still feel an egg in her, that worries me. Has she been x-rayed? Eggs show up well on x-ray and sedation isn't necessary. If you have confidence in your vet, can you take her back to him and discuss your options? According to our vet, injections of oxytocin and calcium usually works very well for eggbound hens. It's non-invasive and not terribly expensive. The oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions and it just may loosen the egg free if it is simply stuck or just mildly bonded with the shell gland. I think it's worth a try. The only reason it didn't work for Ginger is because her egg was absolutely cemented in, the worst our vet had ever seen. Or after trying everything possible to get her to lay it herself, as a last resort, if you have a skilled bird vet he could suction out the egg contents and break the shell, removing all the pieces he can and hope she passes the rest. I'm not sure I'd do that again after what happened to Ginger, but with a good bird vet it's an option if Avril starts going downhill.

How is she acting, does she seem like she's feeling bad? I was always amazed at how happy and active Ginger was even though she had a egg stuck in her for weeks. Watching her, you'd never know anything was wrong. I don't know how long that would've lasted though. I think you're doing a good job with Avril, calcium and bringing her in to the crate in the evenings. Is there any possibility she's laying somewhere hidden while free ranging? And if the thin shells break, her or others could be eating them? Just a thought. I'm hoping for the best for you and Avril and I really wish I could help more. All I know to do at this point is take her to a really good bird vet. Please keep posting updates, I'm here routing for her.

 

[ace6175]

Thanks so much for your comments and interest, BW! Avril did lay an egg in the regular nest box today! (shock!) It's kind of long, and has an indented crack on 1 side, so I'm a little worried that it went around the stuck egg. Of course, it could have been stepped on, or just cracked by a hard landing too. But after your story, I'm still keeping my eye on her. Can't catch her yet to check for the stuck egg - I will later tonight.
I did take her to the vet initially for shots of calcium & oxytocin, but it didn't seem to work, or if it did, it took 2 days. I wonder if I could mail order the oxytocin?
I do put oyster shell out for all the chicks, but Avril is the picked on one, so she doesn't get much chance. I'll put more containers of crushed, cooked shells outside so she can have access.
I will keep you posted. It would break my heart if something happened to my little Avril, I'm going to keep a close eye on her.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I have an eggbound hen now. I have managed to get 2 reg. eggs and a soft shelled one out. I don't think there is anymore, so now I am trying to force her into a molt.

It'll make her stop producing eggs, so that her body can have a break.

 

[nefarmgal]

so now I am trying to force her into a molt. It'll make her stop producing eggs, so that her body can have a break.

How exactly do you force a molt?​

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
How exactly do you force a molt?

They require so much light during the day to produce. You take the light away and only give them a few hours a day. I give her about 5 hours a day and the rest in a dark room.

 

[BWchicken]

Were you able to check Avril tonight? Do you still feel the egg? Sorry I don't know anything about obtaining oxytocin, and if you did, I doubt you could get a proper chicken dosage for it without a vet's advice (I think it's for horses?). I hope I'm wrong, but I think the eggs may be passing around the stuck egg. The egg you described is all too familiar to me. Ginger's were just like that. Elongated eggs with a flat indented spot. The indention was like a very thin-shelled weak spot. That's where the egg was butted up against the stuck egg. As time went on, those eggs started coming out leaking at the dented spot. It seemed to get more difficult for them to go around the stuck one. I hope I'm wrong about Avril, but I have to say it sounds like her stuck egg may be cemented to the shell gland (or else it's just really really stuck). But that doesn't mean she can't be saved. It will most likely require a veterinary procedure though.

I never thought I'd come across someone else this happened to, I think it's rare. As long as she isn't suffering or feeling bad you can just keep an eye on her, and hope that egg passes somehow. But soon something will have to be done for her. It's hard on her little body if she's laying eggs around an egg and I'm guessing it'll eventually take a toll on her. And one egg could be broken by the other while still inside her. Of course I don't know exactly what might happen if the stuck egg isn't removed, but I doubt it wouldn't be a good outcome.

But I'm hoping you're right and the dent in Avril's egg is just from a hard landing. That's entirely possible. But the dent together with the elongated shape of the egg worries me. Because of what I went through with Ginger, I guess I've gotten sort of attached to Avril through these posts. Keep us posted.

 

[ace6175]

BW, I'm worried about the same thing. She laid an egg today while on the perch, it broke, so I didn't get to see the shape. I've been working a lot this week, so it's hard to keep a close eye on her. The first egg she laid after her 6 days was pretty round, and large, though thin shelled. Of course, I can still feel an egg in her.....
Otherwise, she seems fine. Right now, I'm going to just keep a watchful eye and try to get as much calcium as I can in her. I'm a little afraid of vet procedures after hearing what you went through with Ginger.
Do you have any pictures of Ginger you could share?

 

[ace6175]

nefarmgal - is that working? Has she started molting?

 

[nefarmgal]

No, I was just wondering how to force a molt. I haven't done it, my chicks are still young.