Is she Eggbound?

[BLaBauve]

2 year old BLRW hen, eating a high quality layer feed

Has been acting odd for a few weeks - her breathing has seemed labored and she's constantly flexing her vent. Hasn't laid in months.

Today I noticed she has nestled into some leaves and was doing her usual heavy breathing, but it seemed more labored them normal. At dusk I noticed she hadn't gone into the coop with the other hens. When I lifted her up this was under her (see picture below). I felt her abdomen and didn't feel anything weird. Is she egg-bound? She seems pretty miserable. . .

 

[Miss Lydia]

That kind of looks like egg material without the shell, Hopefully someone who has been through this will be here to help soon.

 

[BLaBauve]

Or maybe I should ask if she's an internal layer???

 

[meli229]

I have a similar problem, I hope someone can help!!!

 

[BLaBauve]

Sadly, we just found her (Bertha) dead in the coop. She was our first chicken, which makes it a little harder - she is also the first adult chicken we've had pass. But we are glad she lived a happy life here, although it was very short. I'm still thinking she was an internal layer - we'll be burying her tomorrow.

 

[dianaross77]

So sorry to hear she didn't make it. I hope someone who knows something chimes in. It would be good if her death could mean you would know how to treat it if it ever happens again. So sorry.

 

[rebbetzin]

Last year, I am pretty sure one of my Barred Rocks was egg bound. I did all the things I could think of, warm baths, lubricating the vent, gentle pushing on the area, I couldn't feel anything when I would put a finger up her vent.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=381818

I thought she would die, since most the posts on here I have seen with egg bound hens, end in the death of the hen. But... she is still alive, looks great, but I am still waitng to see if she ever lays another egg.

 

[BLaBauve]

Well I'm pretty sure she wasn't egg bound