Eggbound White Pekin question

[dlhunicorn]

When do Pekins normally molt (age)?

 

[pollysmum]

The forced molt it so to stop the bird from laying for a few weeks while she grows a bit more internally, hopefully pushing her abnormal laying pattern into a normal one.

It has nothing to do with her actually molting

 

[WriterofWords]

I might try that while I'm on break, she's laying like crazy right now but it's been almost 2 weeks since her last incident so I'm watching her carefully. She goes to school with me and if anything happens to that duck my students will be heartbroken. She seems otherwise healthy though as long as we can get her laying started quickly again when she gets bound. She doesn't have any discharges or anything like that, I went out and examined her pretty closely last time it happened and also this morning to see if there are any warning signs of impending blockage.

 

[cityfarmfanatics]

I've had to put my Americana in the tub the last 3 days to get her egg out. 30 min. in warm water got them out two days, but we are still working on her today. My question is will she continue to do this? Once egg bound always??? HELP!

 

[WriterofWords]

Wow,, this is a really old thread lol!! Whitey my duck that had the issues would have trouble for a few days and then be fine for months. Unfortunately she passed away while I was out of town once, she became egg bound and died. When she got egg bound though it paralyzed her legs and I would have to move her legs back and forth and free whatever nerve was being compromised by the stuck egg.

 

[3chimama]

wonderful info to have on hand...thank you!
Quote:

 

[melissadvm]

Hi everyone,
This thread has so much great info! Here is a question: how do you know if they are egg-bound for sure? My seven-month-old pullet usually lays daily or occasionally skips a day, but now it has been six days. She looks fine otherwise, walking normally, eating and drinking, bright, active. I'm not sure if I can feel an egg, I don't really know what I'm doing. Is it possible she just stopped laying since it's winter? She doesn't look like she's molting. Any advice would be helpful. I'm not sure if I should get an xray or not since she seems so healthy otherwise, but I love this chicken and would be happy to drive her to the vet if I need to. I tried a warm water bath and massage today but no egg.
Thanks!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

She could be just taking a break, seems like mine will lay for a while then take a break, and the winter weather with less daylight can also play into it.

 

[thomshap]

If she's egg bound, she's not going to seem perky and normal. It's possible she's taking a break -- were there any changes in her life recently (different feed, a new bird being introduced) because that can throw them off for a couple of weeks. I had an egg bound RI Red over the summer, and she was completely listless and wouldn't eat or drink; she just lay in the nesting box, panting. I tried the warm bath and all that, but I had to go in and get the egg (nothing like violating your chicken). She didn't actually complain that much, and it can be done by one person, if you need to resort to that, but it doesn't sound like that's the issue.

BTW, she's fine now and is my best, most consistent layer. So if you do have an egg bound bird, don't necessarily think that's the end of the road for your chicken. There are a lot of sad stories about chickens who die after being egg bound on this forum, which makes things seem like they have to end that way.

If you feel like you need to do something, you can take a syringe of warm water (the kind you get at a regular drug store works fine) and squirt it into her cloaca. If anything eggy looking comes out, then she may indeed be bound. If it turns out you do have to go in, make sure you lubricate your finger first, and go in VERY slowly so that you don't do any internal damage or break the egg.

It would be much more helpful if they could just tell us what's wrong, or that nothing is, and quit worrying. Anyhow, good luck.

 

[melissadvm]

Thank you so much for your replies. I think I will just watch her for now unless she develops any symptoms. Happy holidays!
Melissa