Sick Chicken! Please help!

[kcook620]

Hi, I am relatively new to chickens, it has not even been a year yet. I have 3 hens, and thought one of them was egg bound but now I'm not sure. Last night I noted that she was in her nesting box in the evening for a long time (unusual for her), then instead of the normal egg laying sound she made a screaming sound, and then a kind of gurgly sound. I felt her abdomen and felt what I thought was an egg, up almost under her ribs. Upon further research I think that may be her gizzard. I gave her calcium & did the warm water soak last night & this am, no change. She is alert, eating & drinking, but her stools are dark, scant, and watery. Any ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry for the delay in getting an answer. Always keep posting until you get one, in case it is a slow time. How is your hen doing now? Did she lay an egg? Is she still gurgling? She sounds a little bit like she may be broody, or wanting to sit on some eggs. To check for a stuck egg, poke one finger inside the vent about an inch or two, and if it's all soft, there is not an egg in the cloaca. The gizzard can be impacted with a blockage of something she has eaten. How does her crop feel-- empty and flat, full and hard or balloon-like? Is she eating and drinking?