R.I. Red big swollen bottom, walking like she's constipated, HELP

[Farmerbetsy]

My husband is the primary caregiver for our flock. yesterday he alerted me that one of the R.I. Reds was acting funny but I didn't get out to see her until today. She is moving slowly, her eyes are clear and she has a decent attitude, her nose may be a little bit runny. She is walking like she is constipated -- in an upright position with her legs spread and her bottom dropped as if she is attempting to poop or lay an egg at all times. Compared to her sister, her bottom region is extremely swollen. Is this "egg bound" and if so is there a home cure that we can attempt? the bird vet doesn't open again till Monday. Will she survive this? does her body know to stop ovulating until the impaction heals? what do we do???

 

[speckledhen]

It could be eggbound OR she could have an abdomen filled with fluid and infection. I've never had one eggbound, but have lost several to internal laying and oviduct infections. In fact, I have one right now with your girls' symptoms and have her on strong doses of penicillin. Someone also said that sometimes a brewers yeast tablet a day will help if it's just fluid in the abdomen, called ascites.

To eliminate the idea she's eggbound, you'd have to lube up her oviduct and feel up in there for an eggs. As you enter the vent, the oviduct goes upward and the intestine goes downward. Can't talk you through removing an egg since I've never had an eggbound hen, though.


Salpingitis is common in high production hens like your RIR, especially hatchery stock. Sometimes, the cloaca becomes "loose" and sucks feces back into the oviduct, causing an ecoli infection. In that case, penicillin injections may do the trick or not.

 

[Farmerbetsy]

Gah. this all sounds like a whole bunch of no fun. Most places I read suggested NOT sticking a finger up her. She does have a good appetite. We will try soaking her in hot water (HOW do you keep a chicken in hot water is what I want to know). IF that all doesn't work out we will keep her in isolation and put antibiotics in her water. Maybe we will isolate her and put antibiotix in her water just in case. I just read the other posts on eggbound and it sounds exactly like her.

 

[write2caroline]

I have never had an egg bound chicken so far but I would also look for the search box on the upper right hand corner of the page and plug in egg bound. There are many posts on that topic.

I will keep your chicken in my prayers too!

I am so sorry she is feeling out of sorts

Caroline

 

[seminolewind]

Some say you can feel the egg underneath. I think what I would try first is to lubricate her with olive oil. If she doesn't lay in a few hours, take her inside and put her in a basin or sink of very WARM water, not hot. The idea is to relax them. Good luck, I hope if it's an egg she passes it.

 

[Farmerbetsy]

1 thing I don't get is, how do you keep the chicken in the warm water without her jumping out? won't it piss her off terribly? and then how do you dry her when she's out?

 

[speckledhen]

They usually love it when they realize it's relaxing. And they love being blow-dried most of the time.

 

[Farmerbetsy]

Oh dear lord. Do you use a diffuser?

Oy gevalt. "How I spent Christmas: blow drying my chicken's butt."

 

[Farmerbetsy]

you were all correct, she had a nice time in the bath but she REALLY got into the blow dryer. I hope this doesn't become a habit. How long do I wait to see if she will pass the egg before repeating the bath or digging around inside her? I really hope it doesn't come to that.

 

[kenman]