Hen with Egg in Abdomen Area- But still acting normal

[mrskenmore]

Thank you so much, we have not had any soft eggs I would say in over three months when we really made sure the calcium dish was filled to the rim every morning as we have a few girls that love their oyster shells!

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually when egg bound they will not be able to poop. I am not sure that I would continue the calcium tablets every day since she has not laid an egg in all this time. If you do continue the calcium, I would reduce the dose to 1/2. Half a calcium tablet or Tums is the usual dose when treating for egg problems.

You may be feeling a large lash egg which can be in the oviduct or they can be free lying inside the abdomen. I have found these when I have done necropsies on hens who have died. Cancerous tumors can also be common, and can also occur at the same time as lash eggs. Hopefully, that is not the problem with your sweet hen, but is possible.

I would be tempted to put her back with the others in her flock so that she doesn’t lose her place in the pecking order. My hens who have bumblefoot surgery were always left outside with the other chickens. Or at least let her out for some visits to go outside with the other chickens.

 

[mrskenmore]

Usually when egg bound they will not be able to poop. I am not sure that I would continue the calcium tablets every day since she has not laid an egg in all this time. If you do continue the calcium, I would reduce the dose to 1/2. Half a calcium tablet or Tums is the usual dose when treating for egg problems.

You may be feeling a large lash egg which can be in the oviduct or they can be free lying inside the abdomen. I have found these when I have done necropsies on hens who have died. Cancerous tumors can also be common, and can also occur at the same time as lash eggs. Hopefully, that is not the problem with your sweet hen, but is possible.

I would be tempted to put her back with the others in her flock so that she doesn’t lose her place in the pecking order. My hens who have bumblefoot surgery were always left outside with the other chickens. Or at least let her out for some visits to go outside with the other chickens.

 

[mrskenmore]

Thanks Eggcessive,

I was wondering the same thing.. she is back with the flock and I am going to let her be for today as she has seen a lot of excitement this week. She is a lot happier being with her sisters and is getting on fine with her day... so will continue to monitor and keep you all posted.

 

[Hippie-dippie-chick]

Hi All,

I need the help of the experts- I have a hen that is recovering from double bumblefoot and was at the vet on Monday of this week. He mentioned that she had a rather large egg in her ready to lay... it is Thursday and she still has that egg and has not laid it. I thought she was egg bound but she doesn't have the symptoms- are there other egg related issues this could be?

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) a GLW Hen 1 year old 5 lbs. She is thinner than others as she is the lowest in the pecking order and often gets chased from food

2) What is the behavior, exactly. Went to the vet on Monday to treat double bumblefoot and he noticed an egg- three days later I am still feeling the egg and she is recovering from bumblefoot
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? since Monday
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. It was only noticed after the bumblefoot was discovered
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. she is eating normal (her normal layer pellet) not drinking as much
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Here is the weird thing... her poop looks beautiful almost textbook in color, texture and cecal cap
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? I gave her a few epsom salt baths yesterday and separated her in a crate indoors today to really monitor. Gave her two epsom salt baths and crushed up 1000MG in calcium into her pellet food which she ate all of. she is in a cool, dark, comfortable part of the house
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? I would like to see if I can get her to lay the egg
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. she doesn't look any different than normal- a photo wouldn't show any thing- she is walking, roosting, perching and standing as normal
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use sand

I

Hi All,

I need the help of the experts- I have a hen that is recovering from double bumblefoot and was at the vet on Monday of this week. He mentioned that she had a rather large egg in her ready to lay... it is Thursday and she still has that egg and has not laid it. I thought she was egg bound but she doesn't have the symptoms- are there other egg related issues this could be?

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) a GLW Hen 1 year old 5 lbs. She is thinner than others as she is the lowest in the pecking order and often gets chased from food

2) What is the behavior, exactly. Went to the vet on Monday to treat double bumblefoot and he noticed an egg- three days later I am still feeling the egg and she is recovering from bumblefoot
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? since Monday
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. It was only noticed after the bumblefoot was discovered
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. she is eating normal (her normal layer pellet) not drinking as much
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Here is the weird thing... her poop looks beautiful almost textbook in color, texture and cecal cap
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? I gave her a few epsom salt baths yesterday and separated her in a crate indoors today to really monitor. Gave her two epsom salt baths and crushed up 1000MG in calcium into her pellet food which she ate all of. she is in a cool, dark, comfortable part of the house
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? I would like to see if I can get her to lay the egg
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. she doesn't look any different than normal- a photo wouldn't show any thing- she is walking, roosting, perching and standing as normal
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use sand

 

[Hippie-dippie-chick]

Hi , bumble foot is easy to care for yourself if you are not squeamish.My daughter and I just had a chicken with it . She did an excellent job of removing the bumble and healing was fast. As for the egg calcium is great advise also Edson salt bath helps and they love it or at least mine did. Hope it gets well .

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree with @Eggcessive you may be feeling a fat fad, tumor, an egg laid internally or lash material in the abdomen.
For me, if they are pooping, eating/drinking/active and seem to be happy within themselves, I observe. I leave mine with the flock, they are much happier.
Reality is, if what you are feeling is in the abdomen, it's going to be there and there's not a lot that can be done - not trying to be harsh, sadly that's the way it is.

I also agree, I that I would not give any more extra calcium if she's not laying.

Gladys is lovely and I know you are doing all you can for her.

 

[mrskenmore]

Aww thanks Wyorp Rock,

I agree with you, the fact is that she could have had this mass for awhile and she is acting much happier since we treated her bumblefoot which is good. She just found a big bug outside and ate it happily! She is scratching around now and eating her food with the flock. She also showed some interest in the nesting box so I agree at this point just leave her be love her lots and let her have a great day. In the end that is really all we can do for our chickens anyway right???

 

[mrskenmore]

Oh and just to show you how good her poop looks, she waited until we changed her bumblefoot bandages to show us lol

 

[Eggcessive]

How kind of her, LOL. It looks pretty normal.