I have a white leghorn that has an internal egg.

[Juliet50]

It’s been weeks since I noticed my chicken was walking funny. I’m almost positive she has an egg inside her with the shell on it. I assumed she would break it and die but she hasn’t. At this point I feel like she is healthy enough that I should do something about it but I’m not comfortable cutting into an animal that is fully awake. Does anyone know how to do this or live in the Columbus, Ohio area that has done it that would be willing to help? I mean a private person, not a vet that’s going to charge hundreds of dollars. Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not cut into the chicken. How old is she and does she normally lay eggs? More than likely, she has salpingitis where she has lash egg material inside her. Have you tried ro give her a human calcium tablet or Tums to help her pass an egg or lash egg? Is she eating and drinking fluids? Is she passing any droppings, and what do they look like?

 

[Juliet50]

I would not cut into the chicken. How old is she and does she normally lay eggs? More than likely, she has salpingitis where she has lash egg material inside her. Have you tried ro give her a human calcium tablet or Tums to help her pass an egg or lash egg? Is she eating and drinking fluids? Is she passing any droppings, and what do they look like?

We have 4 or 5 white leghorns between 2-5 years old. They are molting right now so I wouldn’t know for sure if she is laying, but I doubt it. Like I said it’s been weeks and she’d be dead if she wasn’t eating, drinking and pooping. I have had others lay lash eggs. This does not feel the same. This is shaped like an egg and feels hard and smooth like it has a shell, but I guess you never know. I do know it is not in her vent. We gave her baths a couple weeks ago hoping it was something we could fix. I’m concerned she will jump on something just right and the egg will break and then she will die. I have read about someone in this exact situation cutting it out of their chicken and it was successful. I won’t do this without some kind of guidance. I also have an ultrasound machine if anyone knows what I should look for.

The last time I wrote on here people encouraged me to cut open my chicken’s eye to pull out a mass. I wasn’t comfortable doing this and culled him. I cut it open after and it came right out. He would’ve lived if I hadn’t been so scared to try. I don’t want that to happen again.

 

[Eggcessive]

When hens have stuck eggs, they cannot pass droppings. The only time I know of that an egg could be cut out is if a hen has a prolapsed cloaca/vent with an egg in a sac on the outside. But we usually do not recommend even cutting into that, but try to find the opening and maneuvering the egg out. Sorry you lost your chicken with the eye mass.

 

[Juliet50]

When hens have stuck eggs, they cannot pass droppings. The only time I know of that an egg could be cut out is if a hen has a prolapsed cloaca/vent with an egg in a sac on the outside. But we usually do not recommend even cutting into that, but try to find the opening and maneuvering the egg out. Sorry you lost your chicken with the eye mass.

Oh ok. Wouldn’t she have to be pooping if it’s been over 2 weeks? Probably 3? I went on vacation for a week after I found this problem and I have already been back for a week. I didn’t think she’d be alive when I got back. And she’s acting fine besides standing and walking a little strangely. So even though this large egg (it’s big) feels like it’s in her abdomen, there is some kind of opening I can maneuver it through? Do you have an idea of what I should feel for? Would the opening feel thicker or something? Should I do another epsom salt bath before attempting this? Would a vet be able to do this easily? If it’s not surgical and not too expensive, maybe I should just take her somewhere. I usually reserve the vet for our favorites because the costs have been very high even when they can’t help.