How to tell if a hen is egg bound? How to fix her?

[Donnigan]

I have a Golden Comet hen who i think is egg bound she will not eat or drink and has a very pale comb and wattle and is walking like a penguin if she walks at all. Her lower belly is very hard and so bulged out she can not lay on her stomach. She has been standing in corners in a upright position and seems to be straining. This morning i was trying to put olive oil in her egg vent but could not get the syringe in she is so swollen. I managed to get a small bit of oil in her and put her in a crate she pushed for about 2 hours and then stopped so i brought her in and bathed her in warm water and massaged her lower stomach for about 15 minuets. Her egg vent was about half an inch open. I tried to feel the egg but could not when i removed my finger loads of bloody poop came out then her egg vent opened to about 1 inch she has been laying on my bathroom floor pushing and straining for about 6 hours and has her eyes closed. Is looks like there is a huge egg sticking out of her bottom. I think she is dying! Is she egg bound? What should i do?

 

[Eggcessive]

She could be egg bound or she could have a prolapsed vent. A prolapse can sometimes happen with egg binding, so they may be happening together. Poke a finger an inch or two into her vent to check for an egg. If you feel an egg, then try to manipulate the egg into coming out. Egg binding can be caused by too large an egg, damage to the vent from large eggs in the past, or from dehydration or low calcium levels. Giving fluid, and some calcium in the form of a Tums tablet, a calcium tablet, or crushed egg shell in some yogurt may help. With a prolapsed vent with egg binding, the first thing is to get the egg out. Then apply either honey or Preparation H to the vent to keep it moist and to reduce swelling. Try to push the red tissue back inside. Make sure that she can pass droppings. A stuck egg will prevent this, and she could die. Sometimes, more large intestinal tissue may prolapse and that usually is a reason to put the hen down. Prolapse has a chance to recur if their is vent damage. Placing in a dark area for 16 hours every night, and reducing the amount of protein in the diet for a few days is a way to stop laying to help the cent heal. Daily soaking in warm water to keep the vent clean may be helpful. Let us know if she passes the egg, and what happens.

 

[Donnigan]

Thank you! She is just laying there with her eyes closed i dont think she will make it

 

[Donnigan]

 

[Donnigan]

This is her egg vent

 

[Eggcessive]

Her vent does not look prolapsed, but her abdomen looks like she could have ascites or fluid in her belly. That can occur from heart or liver failure, or from internal laying or infection such as egg yolk peritonitis. I would get her to a vet if possible. If you knew it was ascites, you could try to drain off some of the fluid with an 18 gauge needle inserted under the skin in the lower belly. That can relieve pressure and help breathing, and can be done occasionally.

 

[Donnigan]

Sadly she did not make it i had a barred rock die yesterday morning from what i thought was egg binding. I will look up on Ascites.Thanks