Possibly Egg Bound

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Henniezues

Henniezues

Songster
5 Years
May 29, 2018
96
67
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Dahlonega, GA
Hello! I love this website-it have been so helpful for us as we knew very little about raising hens not that long ago. I have a 2 1/2-3 year old hen that has a swollen belly and is noticeably walking more with a wider stance, not quite like a penguin as I have read. She is not moving as fast but will still run for treats and appears to be eating and drinking well. She also walks freely most of the day in the yard looking for bugs. I brought her in last night and could feel that her belly is distended and it looks like her vent is a little swollen. She has some hard, possible cracked eggshell pieces around her feathers below her vent but Im unsure if she is laying or not. We have 6 hens and they all lay the same eggs. i have noticed over the last week that there is one laying a very soft shelled egg and most times it is broken when I go to collect. She let me clean her up and put a little coconut oil around her vent last night but was very eager to get back to the coop. She pooped fine while I had her inside and was very vocal =) I have read several things including, checking inside her vent with my finger, giving her a calcium tablet, probios, epsom salt baths etc. I havent done anything yet as I wanted to get some advice first. Ive attached a picture of her vent although Im sure its probably not very helpful. any advice would be really appreciated.
Thank you!
 

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At her age, the enlarged lower belly could be from ascites (water belly) or from a reproductive problem (salpingitis, egg yolk peritonitis, or tumor.) Is she having trouble breathing or getting around? Does her belly feel spongy, firm or tight? If it is ascites, that yellow fluid can be drained with an 18 gauge needle after disinfecting the skin. Draining the belly is not without risk. Infection or death could possibly occur.
 
Her belly feels more tight than spongy but not really hard-it feels “bloated” She is moving slower but still getting around pretty good. I do find her trying to lay more often and at night which is not her normal.
 
It is harmless to check her for a stuck egg. Insert a clean finger into the vent 1-2 inches. Here is a lay person draining their hen:

If you need to observe to see if she is laying, you can alsways separate her with her flock, but in a wire dog crate with food and water.
 
Thank you for all of the advice-I guess I need to check her for a stuck egg first and try to separate her to observe her more closely. If I dont feel anything then should I try to drain her? Or wait to see if she lays first? Should I be giving her any probios, calcium, yogurt or anything else?
 
I would feel for a stuck egg first. Try to get her eating and drinking normally, or tempt her with a favorite treat. Water is most important. If she had a thin shelled eggbreak inside that can be a set-up for infection. Or she may have layed on an egg and broke it. I don't routinely drain my hens who have had enlarged bellies or ascites, but I recently drained my favorite bantam, since her belly had turned purple and she had labored breathing. It helped her breathing and swelling a lot, and I repeated it once a few days later, but she died about 10 days later. A single dose of calcium would not hurt, but make sure that she is eating layer feed and has oyster shell in her area to take as she needs it. If you see more thin shelled or shell-less egg, give her calcium for 3 days.
 

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