I'm going in. Please advise.

[rebrascora]

I'm not sure where you are getting your information but if she is internally laying it is unlikely she can reabsorb anything other than residual fluid. The yolks just seem to remain inert once they have dropped into the abdominal cavity. Speying hens (removing the ovary) is very risky because the blood supply is so large....same with caponizing grown cockerels..... the reproductive organs of both sexes are very active and need a strong blood supply which is not easily tied off. Most vets will not consider doing it. It is more common in hens to leave the ovary but remove the oviduct (sometimes referred to as a hysterectomy) but this means that the bird will need hormonal implants every 3-6 months to prevent ovulation since the ovary is retained and these are expensive at 100-150 a time. The chances of her stopping ovulating naturally are slim, so she will almost certainly continue to produce yolks if her ovary remains and if there is restricted passage down her oviduct or the oviduct is removed, she will internally lay and sadly eventually die..... don't want you to spend a lot more money and be committed to further regular expenditure without knowing the score in advance.
I know I am painting a bit of a black picture of the situation but I have read enough posts here on BYC of people spending a lot on these procedures only to lose the bird a few months down the line or not recover from surgery. Please ensure you have all the information about exactly what they plan to do and the risks before you commit to major intervention.
Good luck and I hope the new vet figures out it is just something simple like a soft shelled egg and manages to remove it and all my concerns were for nothing.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Praying to St. Brigid and Our Lady of Prompt Succor for you both, good luck with the new vet.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

So happy you've found a vet to help. Clearly this is a tricky issue, sending your girl healing thoughts.

 

[ChitownChick]

I'm not sure where you are getting your information but if she is internally laying it is unlikely she can reabsorb anything other than residual fluid. The yolks just seem to remain inert once they have dropped into the abdominal cavity. Speying hens (removing the ovary) is very risky because the blood supply is so large....same with caponizing grown cockerels..... the reproductive organs of both sexes are very active and need a strong blood supply which is not easily tied off. Most vets will not consider doing it. It is more common in hens to leave the ovary but remove the oviduct (sometimes referred to as a hysterectomy) but this means that the bird will need hormonal implants every 3-6 months to prevent ovulation since the ovary is retained and these are expensive at 100-150 a time. The chances of her stopping ovulating naturally are slim, so she will almost certainly continue to produce yolks if her ovary remains and if there is restricted passage down her oviduct or the oviduct is removed, she will internally lay and sadly eventually die..... don't want you to spend a lot more money and be committed to further regular expenditure without knowing the score in advance.
I know I am painting a bit of a black picture of the situation but I have read enough posts here on BYC of people spending a lot on these procedures only to lose the bird a few months down the line or not recover from surgery. Please ensure you have all the information about exactly what they plan to do and the risks before you commit to major intervention.
Good luck and I hope the new vet figures out it is just something simple like a soft shelled egg and manages to remove it and all my concerns were for nothing.

You really sound like an expert! And I have to say, I think I found a great vet because he said something *very* similar to you. He said that best case scenario he gets the egg out manually while she's sedated, and then gives her a hormone treatment so she won't ovulate for a few months so I can get her back into fighting shape (amend her diet, let her reproductive tract heal), but that we shouldn't remove the duct unless necessary. This doc is really well known in the chicken keeping community in Chicago and seems to truly understand chickens, and chicken people too, ha!

All the treatment, including overnight hospitalization, for less than half the cost of the diagnosis alone at the other place. Amazing.

I get her back tomorrow and am hoping for the best. She's a very sweet little hen, so trusting and even cuddly.

 

[Kiki]

You really sound like an expert! And I have to say, I think I found a great vet because he said something *very* similar to you. He said that best case scenario he gets the egg out manually while she's sedated, and then gives her a hormone treatment so she won't ovulate for a few months so I can get her back into fighting shape (amend her diet, let her reproductive tract heal), but that we shouldn't remove the duct unless necessary. This doc is really well known in the chicken keeping community in Chicago and seems to truly understand chickens, and chicken people too, ha!

All the treatment, including overnight hospitalization, for less than half the cost of the diagnosis alone at the other place. Amazing.

I get her back tomorrow and am hoping for the best. She's a very sweet little hen, so trusting and even cuddly.

 

[rebrascora]

That sounds like an excellent plan. So pleased that you found someone knowledgeable and affordable. Makes the previous vet's bill sting even more though! Keeping my fingers crossed for her. Please update us as soon as you can as we will all be concerned about her I'm sure!

 

[Ruralhideaway]

You really sound like an expert! And I have to say, I think I found a great vet because he said something *very* similar to you. He said that best case scenario he gets the egg out manually while she's sedated, and then gives her a hormone treatment so she won't ovulate for a few months so I can get her back into fighting shape (amend her diet, let her reproductive tract heal), but that we shouldn't remove the duct unless necessary. This doc is really well known in the chicken keeping community in Chicago and seems to truly understand chickens, and chicken people too, ha!

All the treatment, including overnight hospitalization, for less than half the cost of the diagnosis alone at the other place. Amazing.

I get her back tomorrow and am hoping for the best. She's a very sweet little hen, so trusting and even cuddly.

Google reviews isn't a bad way to share your experiences both good and bad with a vet.

 

[lingon]

I've been thinking about your hen - I hope she's recovering?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

How are you and your hen doing today?

 

[ChitownChick]

Thanks for everyone who helped here. Chuck is back home and resting. What happened was, a soft egg broke inside her. She passed most of it naturally, but small shards got stuck and adhered to her oviduct. The vet I found, Dr. Sakas, went in surgically to remove as much of the debris as possible but there is so much blood flow to the reproductive tract that he was unable to retrieve it all without risking her bleeding out. That being said, her vent is completely clear, and her infection is healing. Her digestive system is clear, so the risk to her life has passed.

We have given her a hormonal injection to prevent her from ovulating/laying, as there is possibly still debris adhered in her oviduct and she could easily become eggbound again. Essentially, her reproductive tract is compromised.

The injection may in effect permanently "spay" her, but it also may not. She may start ovulating again in a month, in which case she'd need the injection again, and then again, basically forever (until they invent "the pill" for hens!) So it's not the best case scenario, but she's alive and we have learned a lot from this experience.

@KikisGirls basically called this one 100%.

Lessons I am taking away:

1) always make sure your high-production birds are at a healthy weight and have a lot of calcium in their diet. Our ISA Browns are high production, and this situation made us realize they were underweight with a calcium deficiency, even eating the same feed that keeps the rest of our flock healthy. They are only one year old and already all the laying has taken its toll. Personally, I will never buy a high-production bird again. Only heritage breeds for me--not worth the heartache of watching these birds lay themselves to death!!

2) if a hen is eggbound, she must be treated immediately, but *very* gently. Stay calm, and project that calm energy to the bird. The first time we soaked her, we were nervous, and she fought us--I believe the egg broke inside her during the struggle. The second time I bathed her, I kept the lights low, put on soothing music (lol), kept my breathing and movements calm and slow, even made chicken sounds... She actually fell asleep and responded very well. If I had managed to be that smooth the first time, she may have laid the egg naturally and we wouldn't have had to go through all this.

3) I will always take my chicken to Niles Animal Hospital!! It is the best place to take Chicago chickens in my opinion.

I feel bad like I could've prevented this whole issue with better husbandry but I know I won't make these mistakes again. I hope my experience can help someone else in the future.

Thanks again everybody!