Swollen vent confusion

[KCShaw]

Good evening. I have a Rhode Island Red hen that is a new layer as of Aug end Sept beginning. Yesterday all was fine and I noticed her late to her nest and took note. I checked back an hour later she was still there. I set her on the ground. There were 4 eggs under her and one was quite warm but not 100% verified hers. She noticed new food and went to eat happily. I checked on her at dusk and not on perch but sitting in the shavings in a bowl she made. I checked her over and saw a swollen pulsing slightly vent, no panting, drowsiness or walking or energy problems however. If egg bound i wanted to start treatment asap so took her inside and she had epsom soaks and calcium in some yougurt water and food with broccoli and some bits. She ate well and drank and was relaxed. ( Oh is good normal poops so far 4 total in 24 hrs.)
This morning she seemed ok in her box had another soak and more food ate well etc. but. Vent is still swollen and pulsing some. I have used petroleum jelly and cant feel an egg in her she does seem a bit squishy in her abdomen but not a hard egg.
Not sure what to try now, could this be something else ? Infection maybe or? Such a sweet girl i want to help her.

Thanks
KC

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Good evening. I have a Rhode Island Red hen that is a new layer as of Aug end Sept beginning. Yesterday all was fine and I noticed her late to her nest and took note. I checked back an hour later she was still there. I set her on the ground. There were 4 eggs under her and one was quite warm but not 100% verified hers. She noticed new food and went to eat happily. I checked on her at dusk and not on perch but sitting in the shavings in a bowl she made. I checked her over and saw a swollen pulsing slightly vent, no panting, drowsiness or walking or energy problems however. If egg bound i wanted to start treatment asap so took her inside and she had epsom soaks and calcium in some yougurt water and food with broccoli and some bits. She ate well and drank and was relaxed. ( Oh is good normal poops so far 4 total in 24 hrs.)
This morning she seemed ok in her box had another soak and more food ate well etc. but. Vent is still swollen and pulsing some. I have used petroleum jelly and cant feel an egg in her she does seem a bit squishy in her abdomen but not a hard egg.
Not sure what to try now, could this be something else ? Infection maybe or? Such a sweet girl i want to help her.

Thanks
KC

Is she willing to get up and walk around or does she seem to prefer to stay in her nesting position?

If you have photos of her vent where we can see the swelling, that may be helpful.

I would keep her eating/drinking like you are doing. Give her extra calcium like Caltrate for a couple of days.

Hard to know what's going on with her, it's possible she laid internally, but they usually act like they don't feel very well and are often hunched up when that happens.

 

[KCShaw]

It’s swollen somewhat not major just too swollen and she squeezes it like contractions continuously. The damp looking feathers are from gasoline and her fanny is clean no dripping poops. She doesn’t sit tail pushed down or tail up. She stands normally and was standing and eating when i went in to get the photo. She also sits in a normal hen position for sitting on the ground.
Thanks for the help !

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It’s swollen somewhat not major just too swollen and she squeezes it like contractions continuously. The damp looking feathers are from gasoline and her fanny is clean no dripping poops. She doesn’t sit tail pushed down or tail up. She stands normally and was standing and eating when i went in to get the photo. She also sits in a normal hen position for sitting on the ground.
Thanks for the help !

What's the gasoline for? Is that a typo - do you mean Vaseline?

If she's alert, eating/drinking and moving around in the morning, I would be inclined to put her back with the flock and see what she does.

 

[KCShaw]

Oh yes Vasoline, I will try in morning then and watch. Thank you for your time!

KC

 

[Shezadandy]

I'm inclined to think that she may have laid a larger egg than she had previously based on the uniformity of the redness. Something like hydrocortisone ointment/cream or preparation H might help settle the tissues down and take out some of the sting, and should relieve some of the swelling which will help stop her from straining continually (which is triggered by the swelling).

 

[KCShaw]

Good morning I took your advice both of you. She was standing nicely and eating and energetic this morning in her box in my bathroom so I took her out and let her rejoin her flock And watched. She was busy wanted to eat drink water looked fine and then she ran immediately for her nesting box she likes I let her be and checked on her 30 minutes later and she was gone from the box but a big brown egg was in her place so joy In the coop this morning. I’ll keep an ion her in case she has a second but she seems happy to be running around and no stress visible.
It might have been that she had laid an extra large egg and just had consequences of that. I set her egg in the sun to take a ty pic from us both!
Thank you for helping me I think we might be OK.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Good morning I took your advice both of you. She was standing nicely and eating and energetic this morning in her box in my bathroom so I took her out and let her rejoin her flock And watched. She was busy wanted to eat drink water looked fine and then she ran immediately for her nesting box she likes I let her be and checked on her 30 minutes later and she was gone from the box but a big brown egg was in her place so joy In the coop this morning. I’ll keep an ion her in case she has a second but she seems happy to be running around and no stress visible.
It might have been that she had laid an extra large egg and just had consequences of that. I set her egg in the sun to take a ty pic from us both!
Thank you for helping me I think we might be OK.View attachment 2400159

Glad to hear she is doing much better. She's lovely and her egg is beautiful!

 

[Shezadandy]

If I was going to caption that picture:

"I don't have to do that every day do I????"

I'd continue to give her a little TLC while everything stretches and tones up to minimize the discomfort.