New layer suddenly lethargic, possibly egg bound?

[maryn7]

Aw, she'd put herself under a workbench in the garage - kind of tucked herself away, maybe because it reminds her of the egg box and it's dark.

Set up the heating pad/towel and put her on it. I also did the coconut oil/vent thing. I didn't feel an egg within about the first inch/inch and a half, but we were both pretty upset about the process so I maybe didn't get in there as... thoroughly as I could have. Also worried about potentially breaking the egg.

I've never really had cause to spend a whole lot of time with their vents since they were babies. I'd say, though, that she definitely isn't prolapsed, but she does seem engorged below the vent. My understanding of chicken anatomy is that the egg comes from above the vent, with feces below the vent. Am I just seeing a build up in feces while she attempts to pass the egg? or am I maybe treating for the wrong issue?

I mean, everything I'm reading suggests its a bound egg, but I don't know what I don't know. There was maybe a little bit of whiteish/yellowish residue on the glove after the vent lubrication.

 

[azygous]

Some poop makes it past the blockage, but not all. When there's a blockage, it blocks off cecal poop from the cecum, not shown in the diagram but the ceca are at the tail end of the intestine. This causes the clear discharge from the vent. Normally the cecum distributes excess fluids throughout the chicken's system. During a blockage, the fluid is expelled.

I've had a hen take nearly three weeks to resolve a blockage, and she lost so much fluid, she was ravenously thirsty. You can easily understand how a hen can die that doesn't receive care through her ordeal.

 

[RebelEgger]

Good luck to you and your girl. Sending love and positive thoughts

 

[maryn7]

She passed away. I took her to a vet, but it was too late. She was just panting and didn't have enough oxygen.

The vet said she didn't see any signs of an egg, so reckons it was either egg yolk peritonitis or she picked up something toxic. We decided against an autopsy, since it would take a while to come back and if it is something toxic or infectious that they shared or spread, the other two will have it before results come back.

Thanks for all your help and well-wishes. 2020 really keeps delivering gut punches.

I know they're birds, but will her two sisters notice or care that she's not there? Is there anything I should do for them?

 

[LaFleche]

I am sorry you lost her.

 

[NewBoots]

I'm so sorry, that is so sad. I would think your other ladies will be subdued for some days, I'd just talk to them and give them some extra attention and maybe a tiny bit of treats. And again, I am so sorry.

 

[maryn7]

Yeah, they're pretty quiet.

Thank you all for your support. Much appreciated. I hope you all have a great weekend. And, if you imbibe, pour one out for the girl with the best tail feathers in the business. She was a good chick.