Is my chicken egg bound?

[Nina Bee]

She was acting funny all day yesterday. Inactive and not he usual self. Her rear has been contracting for over 24hrs. She's been pooping pretty regularly which is why I wonder if she's actually egg bound. She's been picking at her not so yummy tums, yogurt and feed mixture I made for her. Haven't seen her drink water today, but she was drinking yesterday. Her poops are moist so it seems she has fluids in her. I've given her a few baths with Epsom salt and rubbed cooking oil on her vent. She's still contracting her behind. She has enough energy to clean herself up after baths. Not really sure what's going on... We moved into a new home 5 months ago and haven't gotten a coop for her yet so she doesn't have anywhere to lay (probably the cause of my current problem). Haven't seen her lay since our old house. No idea if she even does. Although most every day she acts like she's getting ready to lay, we just haven't found any eggs. So without knowing if she actually lays is making this whole situation a bit more confusing. Please help.

 

[staceyj]

Pooping is a good sign because it means she is not totally blockedcome but if it is only liquid we could still have a problem.

Could you post a picture of her here?
A picture speaks a thousand words.

Did you do an internal exam when you were rubbing the oil on her?
Is her abdomen hard?
Is her tail down/walking like a penguin?
Is she fluffed up or are her feathers flat?
Is her comb vibrant or pale?
Have you looked her over for lice or mites?

Could you please get a dishpan or basket or box... just a makeshift anything...and line it with some bedding, torn paper, shredded paper towels...that she could use as a nest and see if the soaking has stimulated her to try to lay?

 

[Nina Bee]

I did not do an internal exam. I'm afraid of hurting her. Can't tell if her abdomen is hard because I've never felt it before, so I wouldn't know the difference. Plus I've read that pressing on it could cause an egg to break if there is one. Her tail in not down and she is not waddling. She is more fluffed than not. He colors look normal. After taking a closer look just now it seems her vent is prolapsed, if that's the right way to phrase it. I tried taking a picture of her rear, but she's wasn't too excited about that. There is definitely tissue sticking out where there wasn't any earlier today. I just applied Preparation H. Not sure if it'll help. She is currently in a small cage with bedding. I have her in a dark room with a heater. Not sure what to do next. Probably try to find a vet tomorrow.

 

[staceyj]

I did not do an internal exam. I'm afraid of hurting her. Can't tell if her abdomen is hard because I've never felt it before, so I wouldn't know the difference. Plus I've read that pressing on it could cause an egg to break if there is one. Her tail in not down and she is not waddling. She is more fluffed than not. He colors look normal. After taking a closer look just now it seems her vent is prolapsed, if that's the right way to phrase it. I tried taking a picture of her rear, but she's wasn't too excited about that. There is definitely tissue sticking out where there wasn't any earlier today. I just applied Preparation H. Not sure if it'll help. She is currently in a small cage with bedding. I have her in a dark room with a heater. Not sure what to do next. Probably try to find a vet tomorrow.

Well the good news is her vent looks puffy but not prolapsed.
Prolapsed is inside out. Very red. The inner mucosal lining which looks sort of like the inside of your mouth, protrudes.

An internal exam is simple and not harmful as long as you’re gentle. No jabbing or poking necessary. Your finger- gloved if possible, and well lubricated, only goes in an inch or two and if it meets up with an egg, then bingo. You have your answer.

Tummy exam- similar. Again gentleness is key here. If you cup your hand between her legs and feel about as gently as if you were testing an avocado or a peach for ripeness. If there’s an egg there in a shell you’ll feel it’s outline.

Keeping her warm and safe and in the dark for the night is a good idea. If she’s drinking , which is important, you could always crush then dissolve a calcium pill in a bit of water and give it to her with a dropper.

 

[MissChick@dee]

If you glove up lube up and place your finger just inside you’ll know if there’s a egg. Sometimes just doing this (along with the baths) is enough to get things moving. You won’t hurt her just think of how big a egg is in comparison to your finger. Get lots of lube on your finger too.

 

[Nina Bee]

I forgot to mention (didn't put it together til now) is that she was pulling out her feathers earlier this week. Not a lot, but enough to notice. Added that to my research plus what's already going on and it could be parasites, maybe mites or an infection... She just doesn't have a lot the symptoms for egg binding. I plan to call a vet first thing in the a.m. Hopefully I can find one that sees chickens.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is she broody?

 

[Nina Bee]

No, not broody. I've had boody hens before. Yesterday she was outside moving from place to place, but mostly laying down. Broody hens don't move. You have to force them to move. Plus I don't recall their vents contracting/pulsating from being broody.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Have you checked inside her vent about 1-2" to see if she is egg bound?

Vents pulse constantly so that is normal.
She may be having some reproductive problems a which are common in laying hens since she has laid an egg in 5months. Internal laying, cancer, tumors, EYP and Salpingitis are a few.

Her vent in the photo looks like it might be slightly swollen, it can be hard to tell in photos.
If you have a vet, they can test for worms and coccidiosis if her stools look abnormal to you.

Check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight and look for any external parasites.