Oviduct impaction? My hen is lethargic, and not eating or responding, and walking like she's constipated.

[kaumlauf]

My hen is lethargic, not eating, laying in one spot all day, and walked like she had a log between her legs when I picked her up and put her down I anm sad to think she has oviduct impaction. What say you? Aside from taking her to the vet, what can I do?

 

[Jener8or]

It sounds like she might be eggbound. You can try giving her some calcium to see if it helps to stimulate her egg laying. Here is a good article to see if more of the symptoms match and some other treatments for her: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-binding-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention.66978/

 

[kaumlauf]

Thank you. Is it possible that she will just heal by herself?

 

[ChicNmom]

Thank you. Is it possible that she will just heal by herself?

Since it's been going on all day you likely need to help her.
She can die from being egg bound.

 

[kaumlauf]

When I went out to find her yesterday to help her, she was nowhere to be found- she wasn't huddled in the corner of the coop where she had spent the day before. We have a very large raspberry patch where the hens like to stay during the hot part of the day. Is it possible she went in there and has now recovered?

 

[ChicNmom]

@kaumlauf


It's hard to know. She should have shown up for breakfast if she didn't show up at bed time.

She could be laying somewhere sick.

Something could have gotten her.

Or, she could have a nest somewhere.

I hope she turns up and is OK.

 

[kaumlauf]

She showed up this morning, I gave some crushed calcium (TUMS) in milk via a syringe, and gave her an epsom salt in warm water soak . Nothing changed. One source said to locate the egg by inserting a finger in her vent, then try to lubricate it. The directions said to insert finger straight ahead, not down. I found the egg , it was downward, but it was surrounded in membrane, so I apparently wasn't making direct contact with the egg. So, I wasn't able to lubricate the egg. I could feel how large it was- and it was quite large. Poor girl. I know she must feel miserable. I don't know what else I can do for her but pray. It's been over 36 hours at least.

 

[ChicNmom]

@kaumlauf

Keep giving her calcium. If you have calcium citrate with vitamin d that is best. Try another epsom salt soak.

And, at this point I would reinsert a heavily lubed finger and gently move it around the egg just to see if there is a gap in the membrane anywhere that you could get some lube into.

She will die if she can't pass that egg so at this point I would try everything possible.

 

[kaumlauf]

I discovered she is not egg bound but has water belly. So, as this is terminal, today I will have to deal with it. I discovered she wasn't egg bound when I inserted my finger in her vent to lubricate it, and there was no egg, but a very large mass just below where the egg should have been. As this is all new to me, I did further research and discovered she has water belly, or ascitis.

 

[kaumlauf]

@kaumlauf

Keep giving her calcium. If you have calcium citrate with vitamin d that is best. Try another epsom salt soak.

And, at this point I would reinsert a heavily lubed finger and gently move it around the egg just to see if there is a gap in the membrane anywhere that you could get some lube into.

She will die if she can't pass that egg so at this point I would try everything possible.