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

[Jossy J]

I have a banty hen who has just passed a yolk with no shell. She is lethargic and unhappy. Her last few eggs had a weak shell and I was in the process of getting her some oyster shells. But it seems too late...please help...she's our favorite hen and our children love her..anything I can do???

Thanks.

 

[Jossy J]

I have completed the following info in case it helps:

1) What type of bird , age and weight.
1 year old buff brahma

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Lethargic, quiet, not moving, seems to be pushing and her vent is opening and closing, not eating nor drinking.

3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No.

4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Lack of calcium.

5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
None.

6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
No poop seen.

7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Nothing so far. I'm new at this and really worried.

8 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I want to treat her. We don't have any vets around here that treat chickens. But I would take her to the vets if there was one around and available.


9) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
10) Describe the housing/bedding in use
shavings.

Thanks. Please reply.

 

[sonew123]

give her a nice warm long bath--sometimes that helps relax the muscles--in the mean time I know of a great thread on this-do the bath and let me hunt down the good info right now for you- I should have it posted by the time your done...

 

[sonew123]

here you go-three horses is awesome and gives great advice

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=228426

 

[Jossy J]

Thank you very much for the link. My husband has been searching for egg pieces inside her with KY jelly and a latix glove. He can feel something but can't pull it out. She's relaxing right now in a warm bath.

I've bought her inside and have a cage for her. I'll try and feed her the oyster shell but I'm concerned it will be too late and she isn't interested in eating. We've offered her yogurt and crack corn (her favorite) but no go. She is fed a crumble but obviously not enough calcium for her.

Any other advice would be appreciated.

Do hens pass the shells on their own? What is the typical end result for this kind of problem? I want to prepare the kids in case it's not good.

Thank you.

 

[sonew123]

That was a long link I sent you--It took me a while to re-read it. Im not sure how things usually turn out.. I believe it depends how far the hen is and how much she passed on her own or with your help. It seems sometimes no matter what you do -it just isnt enough and they pass. Orrr it seems something like this can be solved by getting out the last f the egg shells and giving her a day or two to herslef in a crate and she bounces right back..I hope that is what will happen for you-Ill keep researching and see if I can find another good post-this has yet to happen to me or my hens-but I read all the posts carefully to prepare myself for when and if it does-give a little more time...Il get back to you good job on the bath ...

 

[chickenzoo]

You will need to put her on an antibiotic, since the egg has broken inside her and can cut up her insides and cause infection. Baytril is often used, but is a vet RX. Warm bathes, keeping her hydrated, mineral oil down the vent and offering scrambled eggs or warm canned dog food to keep up her strength. If she does not eat put some egg pieces in her mouth. Vitamins in her water also until you can get some meds. I had a hen treated at the vet before and it was like $30 but it depends on the vet. They had to break the egg in her and then I did what was mentioned above and treated her with Baytril. Best Wishes

 

[sonew123]

Im sorry that was the best post I could find on this issue:-( most said the same thing but this was the one that had alot more details and such-I wish you the best and keep us updated--Ill be watching..good luck

 

[Jossy J]

I've been flushing her cloaca with cool water with a syringe but nothing but a small amount of white poop is coming out. No signs of egg shells. I seem to have put more water in her than is coming out...

She's pushing and pushing and trying really hard. We 'force fed' her some yoghurt with oyster shell and dipped her beak in water. Her vent looks light pink but she just keeps pushing.

There isn't a bird vet around me. I'll have to drive her to the city to find one. I leave near Newmarket, Ontario Canada..anyone know of a vet near me?

I'm starting to panic... Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks.

 

[Jossy J]

I lubed up my finger and went searching again. There is nothing in her cloaca. Does that mean that the egg could have broken in her oviduct? I did see her pass a perfectly normal looking inside of the egg ie. yolk etc. but no shell.

she is still pushing, not eating and no signs of any egg shells. I've put her under a heat lamp in the house. She can move away from the lamp if it gets too hot but it won't because the cage is high and not too much heat on her. She's got a variety of foods made available to her with water. I guess I should go to bed and let her rest as it's getting late.

Any more advice would really be appreciated. thank you.