Hen having trouble passing egg!

[Rob Tof]

My Roadisland Red seems to be having issues passing a egg. She's been in the nest box for almost two days. I put a water and food tray today for her in front of the nest box. She's eating fine drinking fine. I see her straining a lot she's one of my best egg laters some times double yokes. I can feel the egg is ready but for the past two days nothing. I seporated her from the others in a dog crate and moved her with her nest crate in it. Is there any thing I can do to help her? I know it's not calcium as I give sups in water and oyster shells always on near.

 

[Rob Tof]

She was born in April this year. So still kinda new layer. She's really pushing hard. I feel like I should be doing something to help her.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

you can try a nice warm soak with some Epsom salts . Sometimes it relaxes them enough to pass the egg also maybe a little Vaseline around the vent be careful not to break the egg.

 

[lazy gardener]

You should also try to get a Tums or calcium pill into her. You could crush it, and mix it with some scrambled egg, or something else that you know she will eat.

 

[staceyj]

Have you gently felt to see if the egg is close?

A tums or rolaids tablet broken up might give her the extra calcium she needs to coordinate her contractions.

You can bring her inside and soak her in the sink full of the nice warm water for about 15 minutes. A little bit of Epsom salts helps. The warm water helps them relax those muscles.

After she gets out and you dry her off you can put a little bit of lubricant in her vent and see if she can pass the egg on her own. If she is still struggling you can use some more lubrication or even olive oil or another type of cooking oil and gently massage down there.
Be especially careful though not to break the egg.

There are lots of threads on these forums about egg binding that you may want to look at for additional suggestions.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

OP says he gives calcium supplements in water ? Would a tums still help ?

 

[lazy gardener]

Sounds like the "sups in water" are part of his usual feed supplement. So, in this case, if his assessment that the bird is egg bound is correct, the extra calcium is indicated. A vet would give a calcium injection.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Sounds like the "sups in water" are part of his usual feed supplement. So, in this case, if his assessment that the bird is egg bound is correct, the extra calcium is indicated. A vet would give a calcium injection.

thank you

 

[Rob Tof]

Ty I'll try the hot bath and epsom salt first. I can feel the egg it's big. After the soak I'll lube her up a bit. I can also offer her a tums crushed up. Though I don't think this is a calcium issue. I give calcium in the water every day and leave out oyster shells for them. Also the egg layer feed has calcium in it too.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

let us know how it goes . Good luck