Help!! Silkie egg bound??

[Mattisonmandi]

I checked on my girls and one silkie was laying on her side unable to walk and use her legs, I immediately thought she was dying. I picked her up and brought her to the water and helped her with balance while she drank. She drank a ton and then had more energy to walk about four steps then would sit. Her vent is pulsating and she seems to have has liquid coming out bc her whole backside is wet. After googling I think she’s egg bound and gave her a 20min warm bath, messages her tummy, dried her, rubbed the outside of her vent gently with vegetable oil and now have her on a warm towel in a small animal crate in a dark quite space. What do I do now??

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

So far, I think what you've done is good. I'm no expert on egg binding though. If she is egg bound and doesn't get better soon, you might have to get it out yourself. I know you need gloves and petroleum jelly, and to be really careful. I'd try searching up how to do it first though. Good luck!

 

[MROO]

Here's the BYC link for treating an egg-bound hen. It's VERY good!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-binding-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention.66978/

 

[aart]

How old is she...and how long has she been laying??

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[Mattisonmandi]

She’s a year and a half and has been laying for over 6 months. North Texas

 

[aart]

Wonders if she's dehydrated from the heat?
Give her a dose of electrolytes.
When did she last lay?
Is her abdomen swollen?
The vent can pulsate for many reasons, including when they are breathing.

I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[Mattisonmandi]

Dehydration was my next guess. I will run to the store to grab some things soon. Thank you for the advise!

 

[Mattisonmandi]

And I can’t feel an egg or obvious harness in her abdomen