Pullet laid first two eggs and went broody? May still have unlaid egg inside??

[luluvantuckett]

My Old English Game Bantam pullet, Bertie Mae, laid her first two eggs last week. They both had a soft shell. The day after she laid her 2nd soft egg she went broody. At least I'm pretty sure she did because I had another older hen just hatch a clutch. She has the same signs. Flattening out on the nest, when she does leave the nest (once a day) she has a distinct cluck and she fluffs her feathers up the exact same way Daisy did. And she tucks the other girls eggs under her breast and feathers. Is it possible for them to go broody after laying 2 eggs?
Another thing that troubles me is that I pick her up and feel her abdomen and it feels like theres a solid egg inside. About an inch or so from her vent. Could it be something else? Or could there be an egg that's stuck? I know they stop laying when they go broody but would the egg stop moving? Or could it be stuck and she's sitting on the nest because she's trying to lay the egg?

Thanks for any advice or info!!!!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

*If* there is an egg inside of her she is egg-bound, not broody. Have you done an internal exam? Simply clean and lube (and/or glove) a finger and insert it gently into her vent. If the egg is at the point that it has a solid shell and is palpable from the outside, it will only take about an inch or so of insertion to come into contact with it. Knowing which situation you are dealing with is going to be key in knowing how you need to be proceeding.

 

[luluvantuckett]

Thank you!
Ok I did what you said and there is definitely an egg in there. I've read some about egg bound hens. Should I begin with a warm soak? She's been like this for about 5 days.

 

[aart]

I would start with a warm soak.
Best of cLuck!

 

[SamanthaBrooke]

Update when you can, I had a scare yesterday but it was just an immature hen practicing nest building!

 

[luluvantuckett]

Thank you. I will adapt and keep you posted.

 

[luluvantuckett]

I soaked her in a warm Epsom bath for 20 minutes and coated her vent heavily with lube yesterday morning. I can feel that the egg has moved a little closer to the vent, but not much. Should I do another warm bath before taking any further steps?

 

[aart]

I soaked her in a warm Epsom bath for 20 minutes and coated her vent heavily with lube yesterday morning. I can feel that the egg has moved a little closer to the vent, but not much. Should I do another warm bath before taking any further steps?

I would try another bath...tho I don't know much about this not ever having done it myself.
I assume you've read some threads about it?
Not sure about the epsom salts.
I think you need to leave them in there for quite some time, to allow them to relax?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

So sorry, have only just come back to this after the other day. Have you done anything regarding giving her calcium? Calcium is a key component in supporting the muscular contractions needed to expel the egg.

 

[luluvantuckett]

So sorry, have only just come back to this after the other day. Have you done anything regarding giving her calcium? Calcium is a key component in supporting the muscular contractions needed to expel the egg.

I've had layer feed available for her about a month. And oyster shell. They free range during the day and eat the feed on their way to roost at night. I have had electrolytes in their water off and on. I can get some liquid calcium to give her if i need to.
I'm actually still not 100% sure it's an egg. I certainly feels like an egg... but this morning she was acting differently. I found her on the nest so I took her off to inspect her. I put her down and walked away. A little bit later I saw her walking around like normal. She didn't seem to feel bad at all. I went and checked for an egg in the nest and didn't find anything anywhere. I sat on the bench in my yard and she flew about 10 feet and landed on the bench next to me.
Ive been reading about egg bound hens and if seen that they are lethargic, weak, not eating, etc. She's had the mass for about a week now. So heres what's going on...
She laid two soft eggs last week, one was broken under the perch where she had laid it while she slept, and ... The next day (I just remembered this) She was walking around complaining and she's usually quiet. So I figured she was about to lay her 2nd egg. I picked her up and felt her abdomen and I could feel the mass. I assumed it was an egg. She walked around squawking until she stood still and laid the 2nd soft egg. She stood there for a minute exhausted. I picked her up and felt her abdomen again and felt that the mass was STILL there. I thought it was strange... but figured it was her 3rd egg getting ready to come out and that her body was still getting adjusted and off wack. Well she's still got the mass and has been sitting on the nest since. I figured she went broody. Yesterday I felt in her vent and it fells like the shape and smoothness of an egg. And it feel hard. I let her soak 20 minuted yesterday in a warm bath. I do feel her pelvic bone very prominently in front of the "egg". What is strange to me is that she seems to be feeling better. At this point I figure she would be much worse. She hasn't laid any more eggs.