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

[Zoopathy]

Sounds like you all are experts on egg bound hens, so I have a question. I have one that may be egg bound--I can't figure out why she's not laying. Her abdomen feels sort of full to me, but still soft and squishy, and she doesn't complain when I poke around. Can you always feel a bound egg? I don't know where that shell gland is located along her reproductive tract--high? low? Advice? Sorry to but in, but figured you all would know. And I'm sorry to hear about Avril (and Ginger). Madeleine is an Easter egger, too.

 

[Elite Silkies]

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It hasn't worked yet, but I also read tonight that you are to withhold food for around two weeks, and I am not willing to do that. But, as long as I limit her daylight, then she should not produce any eggs. I need to stop her body from producing so that it can heal. She didn't lay one today, so that is a good sign.

 

[Elite Silkies]

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Get some mineral oil and put some on your finger. That will help you feel around better. You don't have to get inside where the egg is, you will be able to feel if there is an egg inside the vent.

 

[BWchicken]

Zoopathy, when Ginger's egg was stuck in her shell gland (sometimes called uterus) I could feel it plainly well below the vent, right where the "butt fuzz" is. Not low between her legs, not up by the vent, but between these two areas. I don't know whether you could feel it if it was stuck further up, no experience with that. Keep an eye on that squishy abdomen to see if it's getting bigger. I'm not sure, but I think if a hen is laying internally, they sometimes get fluid-filled. I really don't know enough about that to be offering advice, so do a BYC search for "ascites" and/or "internal laying".

Ace, I sure hope Avril comes through all this ok. It amazes me how they just carry on normally with a egg stuck in them. I don't think that's normally the case with most eggbound hens. I wish I knew what will happen as time goes on. My vet said it would eventually kill Ginger if not removed, but I didn't ask how or why. I know my vet experience is a sad one, but I'd do it again if I thought she'd suffer and then die anyway. I'd just discuss the sedation more. What happened to Ginger under sedation won't happen to all hens. Maybe your vet would consider not using sedation? If Avril can't get this egg out herself, there may be no other choice. The way I look at it is, if I'm going to lose the bird anyway, I'd risk her life for a possibly life-saving procedure. When I start to feel guilty about Ginger I remember that she would've died regardless, and I was trying to save her life when she died. Not saying Avril is dying, but don't wait too long. The more stressed and weaker she is, the more dangerous sedation (if needed) becomes. Just keep an eye on those eggs she lays, and hopefully that'll
tell you if you're facing a cemented egg. I do hope we're wrong about that though. Maybe your vet could talk to you about options on the phone, and you can decide how to proceed. Please keep updating!

And here's my sweet Ginger. She's a Bantam EE. She was only about 10 or 12 weeks old in this pic. I kick myself for not taking more recent photos of her. But she still looked exactly like this at 7 months old when she died, just a bit bigger.

 

[nanawendy]

My Lucy is an EE as well. She has alot of trouble laying... ???? Do you think this could be a breed thing????

 

[ace6175]

BW, here is a picture of the egg Avril laid today - it's rounder than eggs laid by my other hens, but has a cracked spot on the side. I'm starting to get really worried. Does this look like the eggs Ginger laid? I can still feel an egg in Avril's belly - it's so close to her vent, I'm tempted to try getting it out again myself. And I probably will give her an "exam" tonight to find out if it's really stuck or how stuck. I just hate to do anything that will stress her out, and a vet visit is extremely stressful, not to mention sedation or surgery. She is eating normally and jumps on my shoulder for treats and in all other ways acting normally.
Great picture of Ginger, she is really a beauty! Do you have any other EE's?

Nanawendy, my neighbor has 3 EE's and never seems to have any trouble with them being eggbound. So, not sure if that is a breed thing. That would make an interesting topic, maybe I'll post it?

 

[Zoopathy]

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This is good to know. Every day I pick her up and poke around, hoping for any sign of anything! Then I grab my other hens and poke their bellies, too, trying for a comparison!! I think they're all running scared now! LOL!

Some other folks have suggested to me that she could very well just be taking a break. I didn't know that hens did that! Thought they always had to have a reason like broodiness, or molt, or short days, or some such. So I guess we'll see. I contacted an avian vet today, but am too afraid to even ask what his prices might be for an office visit and an xray...

Thanks for your insights. Ginger was a beautiful bird--she looks a lot like my Madeleine, actually! And my fingers are still crossed for Avril--I'm going to continue following this thread!

Thanks,
Cindy

 

[ace6175]

Zoopathy - my RSL took a break for a week. I felt her belly, she was fine. Then she started up again everyday.
Is beekeeping difficult?

 

[BWchicken]

I don't think the egg issues are breed related, but I guess it's possible. Currently I have a small flock of 10 hens and a rooster, various breeds, all bantams. Three of them are EEs and they haven't had any egg problems, but two of them are insanely broody, which I don't need right now. The other EE is in the house right now with a slow emptying crop I'm trying to sort out. Not sure what's causing it though.

Ace, it's hard to tell from the pic, is that darker spot in the center of the egg kind of flat or dented? If so, then it does look exactly like Ginger's eggs (except hers were more elongated, not round). There were cracks going out from the dented area just like your picture. You mentioned you were going to give her an exam last night, how did that go? Any good news?

 

[Zoopathy]

Well, I may be insane, but I'm taking Madeleine in for an xray right now. At least I'll know, for sure, one way or the other.

And no, beekeeping isn't hard! I'm pretty new to it, but I'm loving every second!

More soon when I'm back from the vet...