Is my hen egg-bound??! HELP

[DMaree]

Hi all
I'm after some advice.....
I have 3 hens and Beatrice hasn't laid for at least 4 days. I know that one of them (cannot work out who) skips a day every now and then, but on Sunday I noticed that B's tail was drooping. I picked her up and gave her a pat and checked her over and when I put her back down, she swayed and sort of stumbled to one side. It really worried me so I brought them all out into the backyard to let them scratch around and see whether B would walk/eat normally. She swayed once more, it seemed like her left leg wouldn't take her weight, but then she was fine, walking and scratching like the others. I googled symptoms and two things came up: Egg-bound or Egg Yolk Peritonitis. Beatrice is still eating and drinking, she's still walking around and her wattle and comb are a lovely vibrant red. I took her to the vets who thought she could possibly feel the end of an egg right up under her sternum and suggested that I give B a warm bath and see if she lays by today.
I've bathed her a few times and I've fed her coconut oil and scrambled eggs with the shell all broken up a few times too, I've massaged her. But there's still no egg. I noticed this morning that her tail isn't quite as low as it was on Sunday. I'm just worried that there's something wrong. When I put her to bed last night she wasn't able to jump up onto her roost, she was just huddled in the corner of the coop so I made sure she has plenty of hemp around her to keep her warm.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? If it is an egg that's stuck I want to be able to help her but I don't really know how. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm happy to take her back to see a vet, but I get the feeling that they think I should just leave her and see if it resolves itself, but I'm getting really concerned for her so if there's anything I can do, I'll try it.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Quackers3211]

I’m not so sure she is egg bound as I have read that if they cannot pass stool within 24-48 hours they most likely die. But In case it is try giving her a warm espom salt bath. I heard keeping them in a warm humid place that is dark helps them lay. I did that with one of our hens and added another hen for company in my bathroom. I used an old dog bed and hay to mimic a nesting box. This worked for me. Hopefully it helps you. Keep us updated. Best of luck, I’ll say a prayer for her.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC....sorry you are having troubles.

I took her to the vets who thought she could possibly feel the end of an egg right up under her sternum

Is this vet an avian vet, familiar with chicken anatomy?

Where are you located in this world?
Please add your location to your profile so we know your climate.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!


This is what I do with a bird that appears to be 'off'.
I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[DMaree]

I’m not so sure she is egg bound as I have read that if they cannot pass stool within 24-48 hours they most likely die. But In case it is try giving her a warm espom salt bath. I heard keeping them in a warm humid place that is dark helps them lay. I did that with one of our hens and added another hen for company in my bathroom. I used an old dog bed and hay to mimic a nesting box. This worked for me. Hopefully it helps you. Keep us updated. Best of luck, I’ll say a prayer for her.

It's really odd. I've bathed her a few times now and kept her inside to feed her and dry her off, and she normally poos a lot, but there was nothing. It's been a lot more than 48 hours though and she seems bright enough and is happily pecking away at her food. I'll try the Epsom salt bath and keep her and the other girls inside tonight and see what happens.
Thanks for the advice.

Welcome to BYC....sorry you are having troubles.


Is this vet an avian vet, familiar with chicken anatomy?

Where are you located in this world?
Please add your location to your profile so we know your climate.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
View attachment 1410328

This is what I do with a bird that appears to be 'off'.
I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

No the vet doesn't have a specialty. None of the vets here do but we're in a rural area so they've seen their fair share of farm animals. I'm in Queensland, Australia. It's South East QLD though and the mornings and nights are pretty cold. It was around 1degree Celsius this morning and during Winter we get some pretty heavy frosts. Thank you for the tip, I'll add those details now.
I'm new to the world of chickens and I'm not too familiar with their anatomy. The vent, is that at the top and sort of runs down along under the spine? If so, its sort of squishy and I cant feel anything that seems to be egg-shaped. I'll try to find someone with a crate that I can borrow for tonight then I'll get one of my own this weekend. You've got some great tips and I appreciate it so much. I'm really worried and I'm frustrated that the vet cant seem to work out what's wrong and doesn't seem very concerned. I know she's a chicken, but she's my chicken and she's my responsibility and I want to do the right thing by her. Everyone seems to think if she's ill then she'll die and there's nothing I can do. The vet wanted me to bring her back only if she seems 'sad' and isn't eating.
Anyway, I'll do what you suggested and hopefully I can work out what's wrong if I monitor her closely

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Beatrice hasn't laid for at least 4 days...B's tail was drooping

symptoms and two things came up: Egg-bound or Egg Yolk Peritonitis.

vets who thought she could possibly feel the end of an egg right up under her sternum

she normally poos a lot, but there was nothing

The vent, is that at the top and sort of runs down along under the spine? If so, its sort of squishy and I cant feel anything that seems to be egg-shaped.

Hi @DMaree Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear that your hen is not doing well.
I'm going to ask some questions so we can have a better understanding of what you are seeing and feeling.
If you have photos of your hen and her poop those are most welcome.
I've posted a diagram below, hopefully it will help.

Your vet mentioned that they thought there was an egg under her sternum. Where on the body were they feeling? Toward the front of the hen or underneath her between the legs?

She is not pooping at all? Or is it just smaller amounts?

I'm not sure what you are feeling along the spine except maybe the lungs or kidneys? Does there seem to be swelling at the spine or could it be just her body?

Let's look at a couple of things - Feel her crop to see if that is emptying overnight. The crop is the food pouch located on the right front side of the chicken. You should be able to feel a fullness (food/water) when she has been eating. Feel of that before she goes to sleep, then first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks. It should have food in it at night and be empty/flat feeling in the morning. If you need to, perform a comparison on your other 2 hens. Here's a link that has some good photos of what the crop looks like http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour/

Feel of your hen's abdomen, between her legs for any feeling of bloat/swelling or fluid (again, compare her to your other hen's if you need to).

Let us know about the crop and if you feel anything swelling.
If she is not pooping much, see if you can keep her drinking. She may have an internal laying/reproductive disorder as you suspect. Egg masses/tumors and/or fluids can block the intestines making it difficult to pass waste.

Now...we all have lots to learn about chickens, to me they are just fascinating. There is a lot going on in those small bodies.
You asked specifically about the vent. The vent is at the rear end. The large intestine and the oviduct meet at the Cloaca, the Vent is the exit in which feces or an egg leaves the body. (The Vent is essentially the "Butt Hole", but if you read BYC very long, it is mentioned a great deal, so it is important)

Please let us know how she's doing.

 

[aart]

How old is this bird?
It's winter there so even pullets(under one year of age) can slow down laying due to shorter days.

 

[DMaree]

Hi everyone- will respond in more detail in a few hours. Just wanted to post a couple of photos I’ve taken this morning of Beatrice.

Still no poo and she’s eating like a trooper. Her tail is down still and I’ve watched her for over an hour and no sign of any poo, but she looks like she’s trying, so going to call a university veterinary hospital to see if there are any avian vets on staff and take her up tomorrow.

 

[Quackers3211]

Let us know how it goes! I’ll keep my fingers crossed

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Seeking vet care would be best. Please keep us updated and thanks for the photos.

 

[DMaree]

While en route to vets this happened - we have poo!! Not as runny as usual but I’m still excited to see it.
Waiting to see vet now. Will update you all as soon as possible and reply in more detail.
Appreciate everyone’s comments so much!