I believe I have an egg bound hen

[newchickmomma4]

I am very thankful for websites like BYC, Hencam.com and chicken chick so that I know how to treat my Dixie.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you checked her vent for a stuck egg? Insert a gloved finger 1-2 inches. Give her a dose a of calcium (Tums or 1/2 calcium tablet in some yogurt.) The warm soaking and calcium may help. http://beautyofbirds.com/eggbinding.html

 

[newchickmomma4]

I haven't checked her vent yet, but I will if nothing happens in the next hour. She had a nice Epsom salt soak (and enjoyed that much more than I thought she would) and then I out her in a safe warm and comfy place (my chicks brooder bin that they have outgrown). She is resting quietly in my laundry room with calcium, water and a little scratch.

 

[newchickmomma4]

Just checked her vent. Went in to my knuckle and it is soft as can be. No egg. At least not that close.

 

[newchickmomma4]

Going to leave her in the laundry room for a while longer then I'll let her out to free range with her flockmates. Maybe the Epsom salt soak will help whatever has her down. She is 2 years old and my most "fragile" health wise.....she will lose weight for no explained reason, then put it back on and lay 4-5 eggs a week for a couple of weeks and then start looking skinny again, put weight back on, etc. no worms, no parasites. I do suspect that she may possibly have cancer or something. I adopted her from a friend that had a light on 24/7 in their coop "to keep them company", had an air conditioned coop, and never had problems with laying.

Not sure what to do next.

 

[newchickmomma4]

Nothing still. Any ideas??? I don't know if I should let her go back with her flock mates or just let her stay quiet in the laundry room for another hour or two. I can move her to garage, but it gets quite warm in there.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you felt no egg, I would let her out with the others. Egg yolk peritonitis or internal laying can show up in some hens between 2 -3 years old. Some will lose weight, and others may look puffy in the lower abdomen and swell with fluid. (ascites.) Hens like these can waddle and appear egg bound. This is not a diagnosis, since she may not have this, but just to make you aware of the disease. Here is some reading: http://beautyofbirds.com/eggyolkperitonitis.html
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
http://www.littlehenrescue.co.uk/Pages/Medicaladvice.aspx

 

[newchickmomma4]

Well, she WAS egg bound! This evening My husband and I were out, so I texted our son to have her go back to her pen to spend the night with her flockmates. Within 10-15 minutes she had laid an egg. Hoping that tomorrow she is back to her old self.

 

[Eggcessive]

Great to hear. Maybe she was holding the egg to get back to the coop to lay it.

 

[newchickmomma4]

She was on her feet all day today, doing MUCH BETTER!