I think I have a dying eggbound hen! Help!

[kateanab]

Hey all,
I just joined to try and get some help for one of my Wyandotte hens. She's been puffed a bit for the past day or so and I meant to check out her vent to see if it was blocked at all as all my hens got a bit of diarrhea when I switched their seed several weeks ago. This morning I went out to let all the girls out and as I was walking out of the gate I noticed I was missing one of my Gold Lace girls. I went back in to investigate and found her inside the coop pen against the fence on ice! I live in VT and we still have large areas of snow and ice covering the ground. Right now it's about 33F, full sun and windy. Anyway, her eyes are closed, she's virtually unresponsive, and she was ice cold and dense feeling when I picked her up. Her vent area was somehow lying in a hole in the ice that was half filled with water mired by her own feces! I assume she was trying to put herself on ice to decrease the swelling/nub the pain. I don't know how long she's been out. Last night when I rounded them in she was in with the girls, but i leave their coop door open when it's not below 20F and she could have been out there half the night. I don't know what to do and my father won't let me get a vet out here to check her out/put her down. Is she dying? Would there be nothing else I can do for her? If so, is there any other way I could humanely put her down? Should I just leave her be? I feel terribly for her and I don't want her to suffer any longer. I'm also a newbie when it comes to chicken care, my family and I just moved up here to VT on this small farm last Nov. Thanks in advance!

 

[Buugette]

If she were mine... I would bring her in and warm her up... clean up her bottom and keep her warm and calm. Offer her water and food...

Once she is warm, then inspect further what is going on with her... but definately get her warmed up.

D

 

[chickenzoo]

I would get her inside under a heat lamp. Clean up the area and see if she becomes more responsive. If so try to get warm vitimins down her, either by her drinking it when you dip her beak(if she awakes) or injecting under the skin 1/2 warm water to 1/2 vitimin just under skin of shoulders. If she is slipping away then i put them down by placing them in a feed sack and taking a pair of sharp limb loppers, i position over the neck and in one lop it is done. They will move about some in the bag, as it is just a reaction to the neck being severed, but they stop shortly. Some use other methods, but this is easiest on me and the bird. So sorry....

 

[bambi]

Can you bring her in the house? you need to get her warm. I can't give you any advice on her being egg bound but I know someone will help her but you really need to isolate her from the others and get her in a warm place. Bless wishes to you

 

[kateanab]

Well, yes I suppose I could warm her up. I would house her in the feed room with the heat lamp. At least it's quiet and warmer. I'm sure I couldn't put her down that way chickenzoo. I'd much rather have my father shoot her dead than have to cut off any heads. He thinks I should just leave her where she is to die naturally, since we assume she's too far gone. I just wish someone could tell me if she's beyond saving or just looks that way. Any other advice other than warming her up? I've read that I should slap on a pair of gloves, some lube and check out the vent area for a egg or feces. 'Think I should give it a go? I'd just hate to put her in more pain than she's already in.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't think i would give up on her just yet. Try the suggestions that have been mentioned. chickens can amaze you with how well they can bounce back..

 

[kateanab]

But I'm reading in many places that egg binding is mostly incurable. I'm starting to think it would have been worth trying these methods yesterday when she was still up and going, though still puffed up and a bit to herself. Now she's tensley huddled up, and won't open her eyes at all. I have her in the sun on dry ground right now, as I'm still contemplating what to do...this is just so hard.

 

[kateanab]

Sorry guys but she's passed. I just went back out there to gather her up and put her under the lamp and I found her already dead. Thanks for your help and immediate responses! I'll be lurking around the forum to learn more about chickens though, so maybe I'll see you around.
Thanks again,
Kat

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am so sorry to hear she passed,

and to answer your question yes some do die from egg binding and some finally pass the egg and do go on to live, It is serious and happens alot more frequent than you might think. this is a very good place to find out all you can about taking care of chickens and just about anything else.

 

[kateanab]

Thanks, I've been pretty bummed out about it all day.

Although like most I hope to not have to encounter this problem again, I'll be sure to do my best and really research further chicken care and of course first aid for things like this.
It's amazing how attatched you become to these guys without even being aware of it.