Hen with broken egg in her intestine!

[mkiora]

Hi All
I am new to the group and in need of advice. One of my hens has a broken egg inside her. After investigation I discovered it is actually in her large intestine! The oviduct is clear and healthy looking. But her intestine is a mess of shatter shell and egg membrane that just won't budge. I gave her a 20 minute soak in warm water to help her relax. Then I tried again to get the egg out. She was pretty calm and working with me to try to get it out. We worked for a while but I couldn't get a good hold on it and it was stuck. Then after a big push on her part I rechecked and it had slipped further down to where I couldn't really reach it. I really don't want to make things worse. Is there any chance she will pass it on her own? Has anyone seen this problem before? Thanks for your help.

 

[2greenboyz]

I had a hen with broken shell in her. Takes two people, one to hold her with a towel over her head, the other one does the following:
Put protective gloves on, prepare solution of very warm water, mineral oil (maybe 1 tablespoon), and a syringe, no needle of course. Mix this stuff up just as you are ready b/c oil will float to top. Test it on your wrist to make sure its not too hot. Slowly inject it in her the warmth will relax her and allow her to pass it. The oil lubes it. It will take several injects of warm water to get it all out. After she has tried several times, I reached in there with a finger to feel if there were any more pieces. Make sure she's good and rinsed out. Then you could give her a little WHITE vinegar mixed with warm water to help prevent infection in case she got scratched.

I used mineral oil b/c non-reactive and very slippery but in a pinch I suppose any oil would work.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Hi, I know I responded to your other post, but another thing has occurred to me. Maybe if she has problems passing the broken egg material it would help to flush it out. Take a look at this thread, response #5 from Dawg53:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/623252/my-hen-was-egg-bound-egg-broke-inside-her#post_8305497

Is your hen pooping at all or does the vent seem to be blocked?

 

[2greenboyz]

That post from Dawg is where I got the white vinegar idea. Yes, my hen was pooping just fine afterward. There was no blockage, the shell just seemed to get trapped in the tissues and the procedure helped her get it out. She was trying to push it out before I helped, but it just worked its way back inside and if I tugged at it, it hurt her. That's why I did the warm water - has to be warm- and oil. Worked like a champ.

 

[mkiora]

My hen does eat and drink. She appears to be pooping too although it's really runny stuff. Not normal healthy poo. She is somewhat active, moving with the flock out to their day run and back to the coop in the evening. She just moves more slowly than the rest. She will sit hunched up, feathers puffed at times. Sometimes letting out loud squawks when she is struggling to move the broken egg. She's been like this for well over a week. Her health is neither improving nor declining. Poor gal.

I will definitely try the warm water & oil flush followed by a vinegar water flush. I really hope it works for Pretty Susan's sake. Poor sweetie.

 

[2greenboyz]

If she's been like this for over a week I wouldn't be surprised to see an infection develop so just be aware - not sure what to give for that perhaps someone can help. I caught mine day one, freaked me out to see shell coming out and disappearing back into her vent so I flushed her same day. Hope yours is okay, please keep us posted.

 

[mkiora]

Great news! My hen has made an amazing recovery. The day after I first posted she showed marked improvement. I decided to wait and see before doing the oil/water flush. Today she is completely back to her old self. Perhaps after I freed the broken egg from the intestinal "pocket" she was able to pass it herself. To aid in her recovery I added electrolytes/vitamins to the water and put plenty of freshly dug weeds full of bugs and slugs into the run. Hopefully that will help her fight off any potential infection. During her suffering I considered putting her out of her misery, but I am really glad I did not. I couldn't be happier that my best gal is on the mend!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

How Wonderful!!! She must feel so much better. MMM slugs - lucky girl.

 

[2greenboyz]

Great News I'm glad to hear it.

Make sure she gets lots of calcium for her eggs - I know older hens tend to lay thin shelled.

 

[mkiora]

They have free access to crushed oyster shells. I also give them their egg shells. Is there anything more I should be giving them to boost their calcium or aid in calcium absorption? Something with Vitamin D in it perhaps???