Hen laying every 7-10 days HUUUUUGE eggs

[azygous]

What a dilemma. It might help to identify all options, poor as they may be.

1. Allow "nature" to take its course, wherever it takes us.
2. Euthanize now and spare you both further stress and pain.
3. Assume the hen will die without extreme measures, attempt those extreme measures and accept whatever comes of it.

Unfortunately, as you can clearly see, no good thing lurks behind each of the three doors. But each choice will ultimately bring relief

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Hello, all!
I have an olive egger who is (I believe) a year old. I received her last fall/early winter, so I didn't expect much egg laying out of her when she first arrived. However, we are now into heavy laying time and this girl is not laying more than once a week, often closer to 10 days. When she does lay an egg it is ginormous- as in how in the world did that small hen lay this giant egg!? They are always double yolkers. We are going on day 10 today and she has started to move a little slowly and is isolating a bit; her tail is still up and she walks normally but did not eat much that I could tell yesterday. I am wondering if I should treat for egg bound, but what I really need to know is what is wrong that is causing this and is there something I can do about it?
TIA for any help offered

This is what happened to my black-sex-link hen, not sure what to tell you to do but do something! (Mine died because of her large eggs)

 

[IndigoAngel]

This is what happened to my black-sex-link hen, not sure what to tell you to do but do something! (Mine died because of her large eggs)

Read the entire thread and you will discover that I have tried multiple somethings, multiple times. So far nothing has worked. I cannot tell you how sad I am about this.

 

[IndigoAngel]

What a dilemma. It might help to identify all options, poor as they may be.

1. Allow "nature" to take its course, wherever it takes us.
2. Euthanize now and spare you both further stress and pain.
3. Assume the hen will die without extreme measures, attempt those extreme measures and accept whatever comes of it.

Unfortunately, as you can clearly see, no good thing lurks behind each of the three doors. But each choice will ultimately bring relief

I faced the facts this morning that the outcome may be out of my hands. I am fixing to hydrate, lube, and give the calcium one more time and let nature take its course. If/when she seems to be in extreme distress, I will have to euthanize. That is a difficult decision but it is the humane thing to do; I don't want her to suffer

 

[azygous]

This is the most difficult thing about keeping chickens, dealing with such a crisis as this. It never gets any easier, but you do learn that the anguish does come to an end. Then you look to the rest of your flock for comfort.

 

[NatJ]

I underestimated the position of the egg; it is nearly 1.5" in and I cannot actually touch the egg due to a film of tissue between finger and egg.

If there has really been an egg in there for this long, I agree the hen has a problem. But that kind of problem seems odd, given that you kept seeing her act normally.

Is there any chance you are feeling something else? Maybe you could try feeling inside a hen that has no problem, preferably one that has already laid an egg that day, and see whether you can feel the same thing.

 

[IndigoAngel]

If there has really been an egg in there for this long, I agree the hen has a problem. But that kind of problem seems odd, given that you kept seeing her act normally.

Is there any chance you are feeling something else? Maybe you could try feeling inside a hen that has no problem, preferably one that has already laid an egg that day, and see whether you can feel the same thing.

That's a good idea; I will try that today. However, given that it has now been over two weeks since she laid an egg, I am fairly certain that is what I am feeling. I can feel the entire egg from the outside. BUT, I am willing to try anything at this point.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Read the entire thread and you will discover that I have tried multiple somethings, multiple times. So far nothing has worked. I cannot tell you how sad I am about this.

I know how hard it is to loss a hen, I was also upset when I lost my black-sex-link hen. you have my full sympathy. It's the worst when you've tried everything but nothing worked.

 

[IndigoAngel]

An external exam has revealed that there is now a mass behind the egg; I'm sure she has backed up so to speak and has a build up of egg matter. She would not eat a scrambled egg with honey and I had to carry her out of the coop. I'm afraid that she will suffer the fate of @AmeraucanaHank black sex link, but at least I know that I did everything I could possibly do to help her.

 

[IndigoAngel]

I know how hard it is to loss a hen, I was also upset when I lost my black-sex-link hen. you have my full sympathy. It's the worst when you've tried everything but nothing worked.

I'm sorry you lost your hen; chicken husbandry can be brutal. <3