HELP! Lethargic chicken, possible egg binding!

[Beastie]

Okay I really need some help. My speckled Sussex wasn't herself yesterday I went out at about 11am and she was in a corner of the coop and kinda looked like she was trying to lay. She didn't though and went out with the others and just laid around almost all day, she was also panting all day even though it was a cooler day than usual and her gait seemed kinda unsteady. I thought she might be eggbound so I soaked her (though I probably should have kept her soaking a bit longer). I also gave her some sugar water with a bit of coconut oil in it and made sure she drank. After that she seemed to perk up a bit and she pooped a little it was watery, hot weather looking poop. She finally ate a little bit right before bedtime but she seems pretty lethargic today still. Not her usual noisy self, I had to take her off of the roost and when I set her down she went to the water bowl and drank a bunch and kinda sat next to the dish. She didn't seem interested in eating and didn't come out of the coop. Please advise! I don't want to lose our girl!

 

[6LittleHens]

How long did you soak her?

 

[Beastie]

Maybe only like fifteen minutes.

 

[6LittleHens]

You need to try again and soak her for thirty minutes!

 

[CaptainChicken]

You might want to separate her from the other chickens if possible and make sure se has her own water and food, if you have a 2 cages or one big one you could put another one in the to keep her company. I would only separate her for a couple of days.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

If you gently palpate the vent area externally, what do you feel? Do you feel a hard mass (ie egg)? You can (should, imo) perform an internal exam by inserting one clean (or even gloved) and lubricated finger into the vent - if this is egg binding you should encounter the egg pretty easily. Egg binding is often eased with the provision of some calcium - either liquid or even from crushed up TUMS, etc.
Egg binding is so common that you will find several discussions here on the board and also in the learning center as to what has/hasn't worked for others to help ease it - IF that is what is going on with your bird (which goes back to the exam to determine what you are dealing with)

 

[Beastie]

Here is my plan as of now. I am going to separate to a dog kennel in the house, I would like to run a humidifier if I can get the thing working. I want to get some electrolytes I'm her but I don't have a way to get her some actual chicken electrolytes and I don't think I have the stuff for homemade ones, is it okay to give Gatorade? I know it has way more sugar than ideal. Also should I try and get her some calcium? It would have to be the human kind because there are no feed stores near me. Her poop is watery and the only part that has any consistency is green, I will try and post a picture in about an hour.

 

[Beastie]

Where exactly am I supposed to feel for an egg?

 

[Beastie]

She is up and about now (haven't separated her yet because I wasn't home) still moving slowly but she went to the food dish and ate a bit. I tried to feel for an egg and I'm not too sure where to feel but when I touch the area between her legs she goes all wonky, she throws her wings down and out and squats. Has anyone ever seen or heard of this?

 

[MySweetChickens]

you feel for an egg where the vent is just somewhat behind it so around her hips

if Gatorade is all you have just give her a couple spoonfuls and i don't think more calcium is a good idea

when she squatted did she look like this example from google