HELP! Broken egg inside hen!! She's really sick.

[sonew123]

I would take away the light-keep her where it is dark and quiet for the time being-this will keep her the most calm and less stressed-the light signifies its time to get up and be productive-like trying to push an egg out. keep feeding her egg mash-with the oyster and a little yogurt....

 

[Jossy J]

Thanks Sonew123, your advice and support has been very helpful.

She passed the shell! My husband commented on how water soaked it was...I guess all of that flushing worked out afterall.

She is looking brighter, is pooping, eating a little bit of scambled egg with oyster shell mixed in, her regular layer crumbles and water. She doesn't look 100% and I'm waiting for her to lay a normal egg before I put her back with the other chickens in the barn.

Her bum is a mess so I'll give her another warm bath tonight. I'll remove the heat lamp though she does seem quite interested in what is going on in the house. She's very tame and friendly so that helps. I'm hoping that she will get better.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
yeah

it sounds like she is on her way to getting much better. your right- I would still leave her in the house for another day or so to get her strength up, before putting her outside with the other hens. You said she was eating crumbles? are those grower crumbles? She needs to be on layer food and layer pellets are even better-the crumbles do get wasted alot because they are so small. As long as she has oyster shell too-at all times- she should be just fine...Im so glad I could help you--got any photo's of the girlie???

 

[purpletree23]

To give her a big boost of calcium (which she really needs) crush a Tums and add it to one of her favorite foods so she will eat it.

Good job!!! Unfortunatley these situations don't always turn out like this. What a trooper you and your husband are. sonew123 was amazing. Perfect information. This thread is going to printed out and put in my chicken care book. I hope I never need it. WHEW!

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
Right? how calm and awesome they did!!! thank you

 

[Jossy J]

A big huge thanks for sonew123 for her fast response and support. I really, really appreciated her help in time of crisis for us and her help saved the chicken. Whisky, the hen in question, is now back in the barn with her other chicken friends.

It was funny, yesterday my 9 year old son, who is very dedicated to these chickens, was tasked with giving Whisky her last bath to clean up her bum before returning her to the barn. I went downstairs to check on them and there she was wallowing in a bubble bath in the sink!! I hadn't explained the difference between giving the dog a bath and a chicken. She didn't seemed worried at all but we gave her a thorough rinsing, towelling off and sat her under the heat lamp. Within the hour she was preening herself and eating her layer crumbles with oyster shell dressing. I've never seen her little feathered feet so clean!

To answer sonew123 question, our chickens were originally being fed layer pellets but I found they were a little too big for them (they are all banties) and the crumbles are a easier for them to handle.

I like the Tums idea...I'll get her some tomorrow. she still hasn't laid another egg which is a concern but she is bright, perky and still the boss hen!

 

[threehorses]

I'd definitely flush her vent with cool (not warm) water - use a baby's ear syringe or turkey baster. This will help cool her tissues as well as flush out bits of shell.

Then since she had this happen, and might have cuts, I'd just go ahead and put her on penicillin injections for four days to prevent this sort of infection and treat in case something already started brewing inside.

I'll post information on Penicillin G procaine which is easily found at most feed stores in the refrigerator section. That article will be a the bottom here. If a different penicillin (and pen is the only applicable antibiotic that you can get without a prescription - the foil packet ones don't apply.

Laying crumbles are fine - as long as it's layer; also make sure they have free choice oyster shell.

Incidentally I have to say cheers to you and your husband for actually palpating her for the egg pieces.

------------------
USING PENICILLIN G PROCAINE FOR POULTRY – by Nathalie Ross
Sometimes when faced with injured chickens or waterfowls we feel it is necessary to treat with antibiotics to either stop an infection, or prevent one from happening.
People often turn to their local feed store for packaged antibiotics, believing that they are appropriate for nearly all occasions. Unfortunately, these antibiotics in the water actually aren't the ones that work for infected 'wounds'. They are intended for respiratory illnesses and enteritis. The antibiotics that are appropriate for wounds are of the penicillin range, or penicillin related medicines. (Penicillin, Penicillin G Procaine, amoxicillin, etc). With the exception of amoxicillin, these drugs are most often (and most effectively) given by injection. This is particularly true of the penicillin drugs as they are very rough on the beneficial flora of the bird’s digestive tract if given orally.
Penicillin injection medicines are readily available at most feed stores; they are kept and stored in the refrigerator and should be at home as well. One of my preferred drugs for wound use, and commonly found in most stores, is Penicillin G Procaine (300,000 IU).
Penicillin is a mixture of drug particles (solids) in liquid (solution). The particles in the solution are quite large, the drug is quite thick (particularly when stored correctly in the refrigerator) so you need a larger needle to get the correct mixture of particles in solution for an injection.
Most feed stores carry 3 cc syringes pre-equipped with screw-on needles that are 25 gauge (smaller). Of course, to keep the syringe sterile, leave the needle on. The same feedstores often carry loose 18 gauge sterile needles. Buy one for each syringe. Just before you plan to pull the penicillin from the vial for the shot, remove the syringe from its packaging and unscrew the smaller needle, screw on the larger needle with its cap still on. Make sure it is screwed tightly.
Pulling the medicine: penicillin particles settle during storage. Shake the penicillin vial until the solids on the bottom are all mixed into the liquid. Uncap the syringe, and pull the plunger out 1/4cc. Push the needle into the rubber top of the vial and press the plunger to let the air into the vial. Then pull your dosage. Pull out the syringe, turn the needle up, and thump with your finger to dislodge any air bubbles from the syringe to the top of the syringe. Push the plunger gently to push out the air. Re-cap the needle; letting that syringe just come to nearly room temperature. Replace the vial into the refrigerator as soon as the injection is ‘pulled’.

Penicillin is given in the muscle (“IM” aka intramuscularly). On poultry/waterfowl, the best place to give the shot is either in the breast meat or in the thigh. I prefer in the breast meat as there is a great deal of meat, little bone, and few blood vessels.
Clean a spot far from the bone, in the middle of one half of the breast, with a tiny bit of alcohol on a bit of tissue. Uncap the syringe and put the needle into the skin – not terribly far. Less than ¼ inch for sure. Pull its plunger first and look for blood. This is to make sure the needle is not in a blood vessel. If you see blood, withdraw the needle and move the injection sight. Repeat. If you don't see blood, push the plunger in and then remove the syringe from the bird.

Pen G procaine is given daily for no more than four days. The dosage for poultry or waterfowl (under 10 pounds) is listed as less than 1/4 cc if the Penicillin G Procaine is 300,000 I.U. (which is most often is) for animals from 1-10 kg (each kg = 2 pounds, so 1-20 pounds). The dosage is actually listed as 1ml (cc) per 100 pounds of body weight, but giving 1/10th of a cc would be troublesome and it has a high safety margin.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
You can also give her a calcium injection, which will work quicker. You done a great job!

 

[Jossy J]

Just a quick update and a thanks to everyone again...Whisky laid a perfect egg yesterday. Shell was hard and firm. The oyster shell did it's job. Now it is available to all of the hens.

She's back to her usual self. I'm so happy!

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
So happy to hear she is doing great. I bet the kiddos are happy.