How do you feel for an EGGBOUND egg?

[lisahaschickens]

Hello,

I have another post here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=190094

About my 16-week0old pullet that is acting sick. Most responders seem to think she could be eggbound with her first egg. If you want to read my other thread and have other ideas, please post them there. They would be hugely appreciated.

However, my question here is:

Can anyone give me good, detailed instructions on how to feel for an egg if she is eggbound? I am heating water for a bath for her now, but I hate to waste my time and stress her out if eggbound is not the problem at all. I have been trying to feel for the egg, but I am a total newbie and don't know what to feel for. Any instructions would be much appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[Renee]

Don't know how.

I slid my hand down from Audrey's chest to her vent as smoothly as I could from several different angles when I feared she might be eggbound. Pay attention to temp differences too.

Hopefully someone else will respond.

 

[ChickDandy]

You may want to check out the info that was given to me about helping an eggbound hen. I wouldn't worry about the warm water being stressful--it will probably be comfortable for her.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=190800

I first noticed her because she spent a couple of days inside the coop. At first, I thought she might be thinking about brooding, but something didn't seem quite right. She stood around with her tail down, looking forlorn.

I could easily see that my hen had a swollen belly, but I could not feel the egg. She let me massage her abdomen--I pushed around gently by firmly and tried to "move" things toward the rear. I also inserted my finger into her vent to see if I could feel the egg. It was pretty easy--I had a surgical glove on and lubricated my finger with KY jelly.

I held her on her side on my lap for all of this. I think she was pretty uncomfortable and tired because she never protested.

Good luck!