Hopefully this is nothing...that would be a nice change!
I first noticed Ping, my 15 month White Layer looked like her belly was hanging a bit lower than usual. (She looks a bit like an overweight cat right now) So I started watching her a bit closer, and it seems like she is walking a bit heavier, kinda like an overweight person I suppose...kinda lumbering. Now I honestly don't recall this happening; it seemed like all the girls were about the same size.
Then after cleaning the pen and pool, she tried getting in a couple times, couldn't, and gave up. She has been standing at the edge sipping water, but won't get in. This is unusual as she is the first one in the pool and I usually have to push her out at night.
I did a bit of reading on here about being egg-bound. The kicker is her behavior isn't really all that off. She is eating from the trough, drinking water, walking about with the others, and preening. These were all things that other threads said would be an indication of egg-binding troubles. I have also witnessed her pooping several times, so it's not like everything is plugged. Though her vent is very visible...not necessarily swollen, but just in sight, which it usually isn't. She also did her share of dabbling when free ranging in the garden.
Also, tonight I picked her up and felt her belly. It didn't seem abnormally hot, for a duck. Also it was uniformly firm; I didn't feel and hard spots or soft spots. I put her in the pool, and she swam around a bit, then exited and preened for a spell.
I think I'm going to try the warm bath, and maybe a bit of olive oil in the vent, like I see suggested for egg-bound birds. Any other thoughts out there?
Am I just being overly worried?
I first noticed Ping, my 15 month White Layer looked like her belly was hanging a bit lower than usual. (She looks a bit like an overweight cat right now) So I started watching her a bit closer, and it seems like she is walking a bit heavier, kinda like an overweight person I suppose...kinda lumbering. Now I honestly don't recall this happening; it seemed like all the girls were about the same size.
Then after cleaning the pen and pool, she tried getting in a couple times, couldn't, and gave up. She has been standing at the edge sipping water, but won't get in. This is unusual as she is the first one in the pool and I usually have to push her out at night.
I did a bit of reading on here about being egg-bound. The kicker is her behavior isn't really all that off. She is eating from the trough, drinking water, walking about with the others, and preening. These were all things that other threads said would be an indication of egg-binding troubles. I have also witnessed her pooping several times, so it's not like everything is plugged. Though her vent is very visible...not necessarily swollen, but just in sight, which it usually isn't. She also did her share of dabbling when free ranging in the garden.
Also, tonight I picked her up and felt her belly. It didn't seem abnormally hot, for a duck. Also it was uniformly firm; I didn't feel and hard spots or soft spots. I put her in the pool, and she swam around a bit, then exited and preened for a spell.
I think I'm going to try the warm bath, and maybe a bit of olive oil in the vent, like I see suggested for egg-bound birds. Any other thoughts out there?
Am I just being overly worried?
if swelling is still persistant i would say give antibiotics a try she may have an infection but hopefully it was just the big egg 
