hen standing like a penguin?

[blueberrychickens]

One of my hens, a 2+ yr old easter egger is standing like a penguin. She had stopped laying eggs over the summer, so I'm not thinking that she could be egg bound. When I picked her up she doesn't feel squishy in the abdomen like if she had acites , I don't feel any eggs as if she were to be egg bound. Not really sure what could be going on. When I feed treats she is always the first at the door for treats & when she just stood there, I knew something was wrong w her. Her vent is kinda crusty from poop but its not blocked or anything like that. Her crop was pretty empty too.
Help please!

 

[dawg53]

I agree that she could be eggbound. Try soaking her in a container of warm water and gently massage her underside from front to rear for about 20 minutes. Hopefully she'll lay the stuck egg. Repeat soaking as necessary.

 

[blueberrychickens]

She could be egg bound after not laying anymore for months? I'll give her a spa day tmrw, the dh should love that!!

 

[dawg53]

Yep, penguin stance is an indicator that she may be eggbound, warm water soak should help

 

[blueberrychickens]

I'll give it a whirl, how warm should the water be??

 

[GoldenSparrow]

This sound to me like internal egg laying.

This might help
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms.html

or internal egg laying
http://simplelifeainteasy.blogspot.com/2012/03/egg-yolk-peritonitis-diagnosing-sick.html

Good luck.

 

[blueberrychickens]

I found the egg she laid this am on the poop board, it was broken due to a weak shell, but at least she passed it ok. She's been back to her old self, so hopefully she's in the clear. I will continue to monitor her in the mean time.

 

[GoldenSparrow]

Because she it was a soft shell, I would recommend giving her oyster shell or calcium drench and D3.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

This sound to me like internal egg laying.

This might help
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms.html

or internal egg laying
http://simplelifeainteasy.blogspot.com/2012/03/egg-yolk-peritonitis-diagnosing-sick.html

Good luck.

Was just goin' to the bottom, to offer the chicken chick's article ... you're sure on the ball ~'-)

 

[GoldenSparrow]

Thanks Cowcreekgeek!