Possible egg bound hen but could it be something else?

[LizaWeeks]

Hi there,

Hoping for some advice regarding my poorly hen. I am based in the UK, and have 2 beautiful marans. They are happy, healthy girls most of the time. They are 4 years old and are called Audrey and Marilyn.

Marilyn has never been a reliable,consistent layer, has been known to lay shell-less eggs, or very thin shelled eggs.

This morning I noticed she was displaying some classic egg bound symptoms: swollen bottom; watery poop; waddling like a penguin and generally looking quite ill. She is eating and drinking and is still trying to keep active, in that she is walking around the garden but is also resting quite a lot.

I've done an internal examination and can feel "something" although I am not sure what a trapped egg feels like so am not sure if I am just jumping to the wrong conclusion... We've given her some calcium and a warm bath and applied some lubricant to help her out and also some time out to try and encourage her to get this egg moving.

It's been 4 hours or so since I noticed and she still hasn't passed anything and is still swollen.

Any advice on what else I can do to help her? Or advice on what else could be wrong with her?

Thanks
Liza

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. She may be egg bound, but there could be other reproductive problems, such as internal laying, egg yolk peritonitis, or tumor. All of those can cause the same symptoms, and can be common at her age, especially with her history of laying thin or shell-less eggs. Is she passing droppings? Here are some links to read that might help:
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/tag/laying-issues/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=egg+bound

 

[LizaWeeks]

Thanks Eggcessive.

I will have a read of those. She is still pooping, all very watery, most white with some very clear lumps, she passed something earlier that was skin coloured, rubbery and about 2 inches long. She's still eating and drinking but has spent a lot of the day stood is the same position, with her eyes closed. She's gone off to bed okay, I'm hoping she'll be brighter tomorrow.

Thanks,
Liza

 

[LizaWeeks]

Hi again Eggcessive, after reading those links, I think a trip to the vet might be the kindest next step. If it is peritonitis then it sounds like she is in going to have been in a lot of pain. My poor girl :-(

Thanks again,
Liza

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she may have passed a lash egg, which is material associated with internal laying. Here is a link about those: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/12/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard.html

Offer her some things to eat such as chopped egg, canned tuna or salmon, liver, and some buttermilk in addition to her layer feed. Unfortunately, internal laying can be very common today with super good egg layers. Vets can treat with antibiotics sometimes to help improve their quality of life. Sorry about your hen.

 

[LizaWeeks]

Hi there, thought I'd let you have an update - we took our girl to the vets and they put her to sleep this afternoon. Almost certainly due to internal laying. So sad. I don't really know what to do with myself. I'm also worried about our remaining hen, as she is now all alone... I've read a lot that chickens don't like to be alone, any thoughts on what I can do for her now she's on her own?

Thanks
Liza

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC!

So sorry for your loss.

-Kathy

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Maybe ask around since some people like to reduce the number of chickens they have in the autumn months, and sometimes if you offer a good home, they will give them away.