My chicken had a large egg removed by the vet, and she’s not doing well.

[Don Lawrence]

My 8 month old
ameraucana chicken had an egg removed at the vet on Monday. The vet had to remove the yolk and crack the egg, because it was too large to pass. Now my chicken, Madge is continually contracting, and trying to push the remaining shell out. This has been going on since the initial procedure yesterday. I brought her back to the vet today, and an X-ray revealed some egg shell remaining. The vet was able to remove some, but a second X-ray revealed a bit is still inside the vent. He flushed the vent with saline solution and applied a lubricant to help her pass the remaining shell, but she hasn’t yet. He did tube food into her crop, and gave her a dose of electrolytes, because she stopped eating. She also received a pain reliever and antibiotic.
I just gave her a bath with epson salt which was preceded by a dose of calcium. This is the third time in three days that I’ve done that. I returned her to the crate, and she is still contracting, and trying to push something out. Can anyone provide an additional info on this? I am beginning to really worry about her. We return to the vet in the morning for additional treatment.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Is your vet fairly experienced with birds or chickens? I am not sure that I can offer much assistance. The calcium should help with expelling the shell. How often does she normally lay an egg? Is she eating or drinking yet? You can try holding water up to her beak with a cup or with a spoon to the side of her beak. Very watery chicken feed and cooked egg with water dripped onto it in a bowl can help get fluids into her. Let us know what happens at the vet tomorrow. Here is some reading about egg binding:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms/

 

[staceyj]

I agree with @Eggcessive, if you are giving calcium and soaking the only thing I can think of is lubing up a finger and gently feeling inside to see if you can coax it out.

It’s sort of like sticking your hand in a garbage disposal to pull out a broken piece of glass however.
Hard to do without someone getting hurt, so if you choose this route be ever so gentle.

Under the circumstances since she’s already “covered” by the antibiotic ,
If you have a syringe there’s nothing stopping you from dosing her vent with 5 ccs of lubricant such as K-y jelly. Again, NOT FORCEFULLY, just gently.
You aren’t “flushing”. Not giving an enema either, just filling the void with lubricant.

That’s all I can think of for now.

 

[Kathy Golla]

I would ask the vet to send you home with both carprofen and tramadol to administer yourself, in pill form, twice a day.
Both of those pills are very small and easily administered.
The vet should continue to administer subcutaneous fluids too if she’s not drinking.
It may be she’s in pain and very inflamed. She may be straining also because she’s inflamed.
Taking away the pain and inflammation may allow her to be more interested in irresistible foods and encourage her to drink (part of what vet was doing but you administering twice/day would be effective).
Don’t soak her or do anything super invasive. she needs a warm, dimly lit place to heal. I assume you have her isolated?
It’s very good you have her under vet care.

 

[Perris]

hello @Don Lawrence. Good luck with your girl who's lucky to have such an attentive owner. And welcome to BYC

 

[Don Lawrence]

Welcome to BYC. Is your vet fairly experienced with birds or chickens? I am not sure that I can offer much assistance. The calcium should help with expelling the shell. How often does she normally lay an egg? Is she eating or drinking yet? You can try holding water up to her beak with a cup or with a spoon to the side of her beak. Very watery chicken feed and cooked egg with water dripped onto it in a bowl can help get fluids into her. Let us know what happens at the vet tomorrow. Here is some reading about egg binding:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms/

 

[Eggcessive]

Most vets tend to use meloxicam for pain and inflammation in animals and birds. Has your hen taken any water or electrolytes this morning? Most sicks hen I have treated will at least take cooked scrambled egg. If you drop some water on that she can get a little water as well. Reproductive problems laying eggs, stuck eggs, and broken eggs make them feel lousy. The calcium helps them pass the eggs. There can be inflammation and infection, and an antibiotic may be needed. Let us know what happens.

 

[HAPPYCHICKENLADY17]

My 8 month old
ameraucana chicken had an egg removed at the vet on Monday. The vet had to remove the yolk and crack the egg, because it was too large to pass. Now my chicken, Madge is continually contracting, and trying to push the remaining shell out. This has been going on since the initial procedure yesterday. I brought her back to the vet today, and an X-ray revealed some egg shell remaining. The vet was able to remove some, but a second X-ray revealed a bit is still inside the vent. He flushed the vent with saline solution and applied a lubricant to help her pass the remaining shell, but she hasn’t yet. He did tube food into her crop, and gave her a dose of electrolytes, because she stopped eating. She also received a pain reliever and antibiotic.
I just gave her a bath with epson salt which was preceded by a dose of calcium. This is the third time in three days that I’ve done that. I returned her to the crate, and she is still contracting, and trying to push something out. Can anyone provide an additional info on this? I am beginning to really worry about her. We return to the vet in the morning for additional treatment.

ahhhh the poor thing, i hope she feels better soon,,,,

 

[Don Lawrence]

Welcome to BYC. Is your vet fairly experienced with birds or chickens? I am not sure that I can offer much assistance. The calcium should help with expelling the shell. How often does she normally lay an egg? Is she eating or drinking yet? You can try holding water up to her beak with a cup or with a spoon to the side of her beak. Very watery chicken feed and cooked egg with water dripped onto it in a bowl can help get fluids into her. Let us know what happens at the vet tomorrow. Here is some reading about egg binding:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms/

 

[Don Lawrence]

Our vet is an avian vet that treats chickens. Madge seems better this morning, and started eating cottage cheese and some of her pellet food. We’re doing a third X-ray to determine if any of the remaining egg shell has moved. The vet is tube feeding her again and proving electrolytes. She’s on antibiotics and pain medication. He’s also using a saline solution in her vent area, and inserting k-y jelly to help her pass the shell.