EMERGENCY EGG BOUND HEN

[ChickenGirl555]

My hen has had unusual behavior lately and I thought she might just be tired or stressed from the weird weather lately, but yesterday we diagnosed her as egg bound but I think it might be too late. She’s been egg bound for about 4 days if we count the early stages, but she had been pushing out liquid, green poop for 2 days until yesterday, when she reached a critical condition. We gave her an epsom salt bath/soak for 20 minutes but nothing changed. I’ve been force feeding and watering her but it’s not enough for her to survive. She picks up her head and looks around but hasn’t fully opened her eyes for 2 days. She’s almost 3 years old, and was one of the first chickens I had. I’m scared to lose her but I understand if she passes since it is partially my fault. Is there anything else I can do besides continuing to feed/water her as much as I can and giving her epsom salt baths? We’ve had her in a nice quiet cage in my garage with food and water, and we’ve been trying to force calcium into the food and water but nothing is apparently working. Is there something I can do? Could I somehow dislodge it for her? Or is it her time to go? Please help!

 

[Eggcessive]

When was the last time she laid an egg, and have her eggs been normal with hard shells? Is she still passing droppings? I would stop the baths since she is very weak, and the stress could kill her. Can you insert a clean finger into her vent to feel for a stuck egg? Can you give her a few drops of Poultry NutriDrench and 2 ml daily by mouth? If she is passing droppings and you do not feel at stuck egg, she might not be egg bound, but very sick. Reproductive infections and disorders are common in hens over 2 years.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

When was the last time she laid an egg, and have her eggs been normal with hard shells? Is she still passing droppings? I would stop the baths since she is very weak, and the stress could kill her. Can you insert a clean finger into her vent to feel for a stuck egg? Can you give her a few drops of Poultry NutriDrench and 2 ml daily by mouth? If she is passing droppings and you do not feel at stuck egg, she might not be egg bound, but very sick. Reproductive infections and disorders are common in hens over 2 years.

She has not been pooping for at least 24 hours, and I’ll try inserting a finger now.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Ok so I tried to insert my finger into her vent but she kept pushing against my finger and I didn’t want to stress her out or risk hurting her. But I noticed she has almost zero muscle mass. What I suspect are bones are sticking out near the vent opening. Was this just to test if there was an egg? I am certain She has not layed for at least 3 days.

 

[Eggcessive]

Calcium can help to lay an egg. If you have Tums or human calcium, give her half tablet orally or in a small amount of egg. Keep her warm on a moist towel in a warm room.

 

[Eggcessive]

She sounds like she might have cancer or something very serious going on with her reproductive tract. Cancer in hens is very common, and would cause a sudden weight loss. I would keep her warm and comfortable, and try to get her to take some water with electrolytes and vitamins. You can try giving the calcium above but I wouldn’t stress her too much. Very sorry.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

She passed sometime around 4:00 and I buried her. She had thrown up some spittle and pooped green liquid sometime just before her death. Thank you for all the help, anyway R.I.P

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. I lose a couple of hens every year to various reproductive problems, and I usually open them up and look at their abdominal organs for anything unusual. It can help to know what was going on, since these things are common causes of death.