Yolky mess - is she eggbound?

[wannechicknmama]

Hi My 18 month old Cuckoo Maran who has been laying pretty hefty and occasionally odd-shaped eggs lately (long skinny oblong ones, or huge ones that look like double yolkers, but aren't). Today I got home and she was laying on the ground in the sun (it was hot, everyone else was in the shade) with her leg stretched out, covered in yolk. I noticed her vent was all mucky with yolk and in the coop the board where she likes to sleep above the nesting boxes, there was a yolky mess. There is no sign of any shell whatsoever. I am concerned that the shell could still be inside her.

I gave her a warm bath and cleaned her leg and butt. She seems to be acting normal, except for being a bit bothered about being wet. She is eating, drinking, free ranging, and now taking an exuberant dust bath after she finally dried off. I am particularly concerned because I have heard that big eggs are more likely to become bound. When I bathed her I felt around her butt, but I really don't know what I'm looking for.

Any advice? I am just keeping a close eye on her for symptoms of illness and I guess I will see if she lays tomorrow.

I read a post by someone who said she just stuck a lubed latexgloved finger into a cloaca and turned a sideways egg around no problem. I don't know how to do that, but I assume I would figure it out if it came to that.

How can I get her to stop laying such big old eggs?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Wendy

 

[PSJ]

If she is acting fine now then she's probably ok. Just keep an eye on her. Anyway you could confine her for a couple of days to see if she lays? Then you will know for sure she isn't egg bound. I don't know if you can alter egg shape.... Maybe someone else will chime in with more advice

 

[wannechicknmama]

Thanks for the reply! Luckily I will know if she lays tomorrow, because since she is a Cuckoo Maran, she is my only dark chocolate brown egg layer. Her eggs stand out!

The shapes have been weird. I will try to upload some pix!