Eggbound hen?

[Chicken Elizabeth]

Hi everyone, this morning we found one of our Rhode Island reds puffed up in the corner and moving very gingerly. I felt around her vent/abdomen and I don't feel an egg. Her vent isn't clogged. I'm isolating her in a warm spot with electrolyte water and im offering some scrambled egg.
What should I do to diagnose or help her?

 

[MarlaMac]

Hi everyone, this morning we found one of our Rhode Island reds puffed up in the corner and moving very gingerly. I felt around her vent/abdomen and I don't feel an egg. Her vent isn't clogged. I'm isolating her in a warm spot with electrolyte water and im offering some scrambled egg.
What should I do to diagnose or help her?

If you think she is egg bound, give her a calcium citrate pill - 300 to 400 mg. This will cause contractions and hopefully allow her to push the egg through. You can also give her a good soaking in epsom salts bath. This will help to relax the muscles in that area. I have also seen people suggest lubricating just inside the vent to help the movement, but you want to be careful with this process as you can damage things. Someone else might be able to advise on that suggestion.

But, I would immediately give the calcium and the baths. If you do the baths make sure you dry her well before putting her back outside, especially if it is cold where you are.

This is a readily available one

 

[thecatumbrella]

Seconding!

 

[MarlaMac]

Hi everyone, this morning we found one of our Rhode Island reds puffed up in the corner and moving very gingerly. I felt around her vent/abdomen and I don't feel an egg. Her vent isn't clogged. I'm isolating her in a warm spot with electrolyte water and im offering some scrambled egg.
What should I do to diagnose or help her?

I just realized I completely mis-read your post. I thought you said you thought you felt and egg, but that is not what you said. Sorry.

Questions for you.

What do you feed her, including treats?

What do her poops look like?

Is she being bullied or kept from food?

Do your chickens have enough space in their coop and run?

Have you checked her for mites and lice?

Have you checked her for any injuries/bumbles/sprains or breaks?

Did she eat the eggs?

Is she drinking the electrolyte water?

Has she perked up any since you isolated her?

Sorry, again, for the mis-read. I hope she is doing better.

 

[Chicken Elizabeth]

I just realized I completely mis-read your post. I thought you said you thought you felt and egg, but that is not what you said. Sorry.

Questions for you.

What do you feed her, including treats?

What do her poops look like?

Is she being bullied or kept from food?

Do your chickens have enough space in their coop and run?

Have you checked her for mites and lice?

Have you checked her for any injuries/bumbles/sprains or breaks?

Did she eat the eggs?

Is she drinking the electrolyte water?

Has she perked up any since you isolated her?

Sorry, again, for the mis-read. I hope she is doing better.

Thank you. We feed them naturewise feed that's 20% protein. They have constant access to oyster shell and we give them egg shell and vegetables regularly. As far as i can tell they all get along fine and all get food. She has not eaten the eggs, I gave her the calcium and an Epsom salt soak. She is obviously straining. Right now she's drying off inside and acting sleepy but still pushing some. I gave her electrolyte water by dropper a couple times.
A note, we did switch feeds about two weeks ago to the nature wise feed.

 

[Chicken Elizabeth]

I just realized I completely mis-read your post. I thought you said you thought you felt and egg, but that is not what you said. Sorry.

Questions for you.

What do you feed her, including treats?

What do her poops look like?

Is she being bullied or kept from food?

Do your chickens have enough space in their coop and run?

Have you checked her for mites and lice?

Have you checked her for any injuries/bumbles/sprains or breaks?

Did she eat the eggs?

Is she drinking the electrolyte water?

Has she perked up any since you isolated her?

Sorry, again, for the mis-read. I hope she is doing better.

Also, her breathing looks and sounds a little labored.