Need help with eggbound Leghorn

[Cyprus]

Glad she is eating the egg!
You don't need the Neosporin. I was asking about oral or injectable antibiotics like Baytril, Amoxicillin, something like that.
Breathing o.k. is good!!
Good you found the TUMS, the yogurt with egg + shell will be fine too.
Watch that she is warming slowly and not overheating.
She may take a long nap after all this

She is warming slowly. Her comb is still cold.
Her vent is hot, but I've never touched my hens' vents to know what is normal
I don't have oral or injectable antibiotics. School is cancelled again tomorrow, so I will run to our Fleet Farm for them as FF has lots for all kinds of livestock. What should I be looking for? And what guage needle for injection?

 

[Shadrach]

I was advised by my vet to flush the tract with warm water.
I've done this twice now.
I Understand it is more important to flush if the shell has broken because when a new egg forms it's possible for pieces of broken shell to attach to the new egg and can cause internal cuts as the new egg gets delivered.
The problem with this is is you need to be very careful not to flush upwards and force any of the old egg into the isthmus. There is a significant bend in the tract above the uterus that helps prevent this.

 

[Cyprus]

Thanks Shad
Right now she is standing and drinking water, so I will leave her be.
She is a flighty hen and being inside is stressing her. She is in our shower ATM.

I have a ton of syringes, so I can flush her vent later. The egg was right up front, so shouldn't take much.

 

[casportpony]

Note that flushing incorrectly could introduce bacteria into the repro tract.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Thanks Shad
Right now she is standing and drinking water, so I will leave her be.
She is a flighty hen and being inside is stressing her. She is in our shower ATM.

I have a ton of syringes, so I can flush her vent later. The egg was right up front, so shouldn't take much.

I would use sterilized water or sterile saline (boiled on the stove and allowed to cool to body temp) for flushing.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My understanding of this situation is that it’s caused more by bacteria flourishing from within, because of egg matter decomposing within the hens reproductive tract, not so much from bacteria creeping up “into her” from the outer world but I’d like others to chime in on this.

I'm no expert on the subject, but I think bacteria can enter at both ends and be produced by eggs sitting too long.

It's tricky!! LOL
Stacey mentions bacteria flourishing from within - we know that egg (yolk/albumen) are prime breeding material for bacteria. IF that is "spilled" while the egg is being passed (I know it's weird because those come through the oviduct without a shell!!) anyway if it's "spilled" then yes, it could cause infection.
Bacteria can also be introduced from the "outside". The Vagina/Cloaca inverts when an egg is laid, this covers/closes off the large intestine allowing the egg to pass without poop being introduced to the oviduct and onto the egg. IF that fails, does not cover/close or the hen is having problems with passing - bacteria (fecal matter) could be introduced into the Vagina, this can travel up the oviduct.
Often reproductive problems like Salpingitis are caused by E. Coli infection. There are, of course, many "causes" so only testing/investigation/health history would tell the tale (most of the time).
That's my take/understanding of how it works.

She is warming slowly. Her comb is still cold.
Her vent is hot, but I've never touched my hens' vents to know what is normal
I don't have oral or injectable antibiotics. School is cancelled again tomorrow, so I will run to our Fleet Farm for them as FF has lots for all kinds of livestock. What should I be looking for? And what guage needle for injection?

Can you order antibiotics online? Something like Amoxicillin?

**note** you risk flushing egg material if there is any in there and bacteria further into the oviduct if you flush. It would be better to see if she expels any matter on her own.
You can not really give a hen a douche, it's not a closed system.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks Shad
Right now she is standing and drinking water, so I will leave her be.
She is a flighty hen and being inside is stressing her. She is in our shower ATM.

I have a ton of syringes, so I can flush her vent later. The egg was right up front, so shouldn't take much.

If you are going to flush, find a diagram of the reproductive tract so you know which way the intestines join just inside the vent. This way you will know how to insert your finger if you do and how far to insert the syringe. It isn't very far!

 

[Cyprus]

On second thought, I probably won't flush.

 

[Cyprus]

Right now she is drinking water and keeping calm in a nice, warm, dark bathroom.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Right now she is drinking water and keeping calm in a nice, warm, dark bathroom.

I would leave her rest for a while.