Messy Vent, slightly lethargic hen, undeveloped egg protruding!

[surfingdevil]

Hi all

I have had three hens and one roo since July last year. I guess they are all about a year old now, and have been laying really well. This week they have been rather sporadic but I noticed that one of the hens has a very messy vent! some of her poo looked rather green! although they do eat quite a bit of greenery so perhaps that's normal. I managed to catch her - finally! and put her butt into a bowl of warm water to soak, I tried to clean her up and noticed an egg sac sitting just outside her vent and she was obviously trying to get it out - I noticed her muscle action around the vent area. It was well and truly stuck, so not really knowing what to do I gave it a gentle little tug and it burst! gross, I gave it another tug and it came free. But...my hens are not used to being handled and the cockerel is a vicious beastie (toward humans) so she flapped hard and slipped out of my grasp!

I have not been able to clean her properly. She was trying to dry her feathers off by preening a little. What else can I do? Any ideas would be great. I thought I'd put some yoghurt in the coop for them to have and then when it comes to roosting try to catch her again, but its all a bit of a fluster!

Anyone got any clues as to how I tackle this? Thanks

 

[yinzerchick]

I'm not real sure, but...maybe this was a "jelly egg". Have you ever gotten an egg that felt like a water balloon? I think they're harder for the girls to get out, and that may have been why it was stuck then popped in your fingers. Hopefully it's all out and she's okay. I'd let her clean herself up and keep an eye on her.
If you want to catch her, wait till they're all roosted and it's dark, then you can just pluck her off the roost.
Hopefully someone else will come along with some more ideas, or information.
Good Luck!

 

[surfingdevil]

I'm not real sure, but...maybe this was a "jelly egg". Have you ever gotten an egg that felt like a water balloon? I think they're harder for the girls to get out, and that may have been why it was stuck then popped in your fingers. Hopefully it's all out and she's okay. I'd let her clean herself up and keep an eye on her.
If you want to catch her, wait till they're all roosted and it's dark, then you can just pluck her off the roost.
Hopefully someone else will come along with some more ideas, or information.
Good Luck!

Aahhh, a "jelly egg", we've had one or two of these, but only when they first began to lay, it isn't usual now. I am glad I removed it. I think I am going to leave them to be calm for the night because she was difficult to catch and obviously a bit stressed by the whole ordeal, although I think she liked being in the warm water for a moment! Thanks for the info. I'll check her out again tomorrow and if she needs further assistance I'll wait till she roost and collect her then.

 

[surfingdevil]

UPDATE: She seems to be moving about the coop normally. Just going to keep an eye on her.