help: options for egg binding in buff orp

[mintyivyy1]

Hi all,

So confused, I thought I posted this last night, but I'll try again.

11 month old buff orpington hen, free choice grit, free choice oyster shell. Green Mountain organic later feed. one of 9 hens, 1 cockerel. mostly normal eggs up until this time, some mottling (see pic.) Otherwise the happiest chicken ever.

She had a stuck egg on Monday, removed by a poultry vet. blocked by a membrane. she was lethargic, but that's about it. Egg looked totally normal, solid, one weak spot on it.

Seemed to recover just fine, found a soft egg last night, pretty sure it was hers. Eating, drinking, behaving normally if a little tired.

Today she tried to lay for 1.5 hours, nothing came out. Taking her back to the vet, assuming another egg. I will do a warm epsom bath until then.

My big question: if they can't find the egg, does anyone proceed with surgery? Couldn't I do a full surgery and it would just happen again? any chance we do get this one removed and then it doesn't happen again? Would they do a full hystorectomy?

I'm really besides myself. I know they are just chickens to some folks on here, but to me they are beloved pets and I'm just trying to figure out a path forward if they can't get the egg out. Will she grow out of this?

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you tried giving her calcium with vitamin D1 tablet daily while she is having trouble laying or having soft shells? That is what I would do. Eggs can sometimes be hard to lay if they are shell-less, and sometimes reverse peristalsis can cause an egg to go back up into the abdomen. Is she getting layer feed plus is crushed oyster shell available?

 

[mintyivyy1]

Have you tried giving her calcium with vitamin D1 tablet daily while she is having trouble laying or having soft shells? That is what I would do. Eggs can sometimes be hard to lay if they are shell-less, and sometimes reverse peristalsis can cause an egg to go back up into the abdomen. Is she getting layer feed plus is crushed oyster shell available?

Thank you, yes-- she is actually on prescription calcium gluconate form a vet. She also has FC oystershells and grit, and yes, layer feed.