egg bound?

Jazzy · **Joined:** Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:10 pm **Posts:** 1

How do I know if one of my hens in egg bound? I susspect she is as she hasn't laid any eggs for 4 days and she looks unwell.

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

Since know one else has answered I'll give it a go.

When a hen is truly eggbound the egg is usually stuck towards the end of the oviduct (reproductive tract). If you gently squeeze the back part of the hen's abdomen with one hand on either side of the cloaca you should feel if an egg is present.
Start towards the front of the bird and work your way towards the vent. If you're lucky the egg may be almost in the cloaca.

If the bird's abdomen is just swollen & feels like a distended balloon then it is more likely that she has egg yolk peritonitis- basically where the yolk escapes into the abdomen where it causes a build up of fluid. The prognosis for this condition is not so good.

So maybe have a feel of your bird's abdomen and tell us what you find. Also tell us more about her. is she breathing more rapidly? Does she have diarrhoea. Is her comb & wattle red, purple/blue or pale?

Just because she hasn't laid doesn't mean that she's eggbound. Anything that causes her to be ill will stop her from laying. You may need veterinary advice on this one.

Hope this is of some help.

Parvo

alamanda · **Joined:** Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:56 pm **Posts:** 4

Gee you know what your talking about parvo very impressive, I know where to come for help if or should I say when I need it.

freezmac · **Joined:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:35 am **Posts:** 4

sorry edited

freezmac · **Joined:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:35 am **Posts:** 4

Sounds like what I am dealing with I've been reading on allot of forums but still unsure.
I have 3 ex battery hens 24-30months 1 lays daily, 1 lays every few days, one may have never layed if so soft eggs some of which have been eaten by the chooks.
they get scratch mix, cracked corn, pellets and scraps
I think they are Isa browns, new Hampshire reds or similar looking breed.
the chook I suspect never to have layed was acting odd yesterday so i put her in the laundry on a old blanket.
symptoms
Yesterday
Walks with a wide stance and slowly.
a lil off her food but still eating.
Brought her in the house overnight

TODAY
won't walk, won't sit or lay down
looks sleepy, depressed
wont eat unless hand fed not interested in much but canned corn (I call it chook chocs only get from time to time) so maybe greed only.
runny poos mostly clear with white more solid bits
belly soft like water balloon, lil tender to touch. Balding patch between vent and chest but not red or inflamed looking

Treatment
so far Ive water bathed in med-hot water twice for 30 min 4 hrs apart (She liked that)
sat her on hot water bottle wrapped with a towel between baths
(Ive seen some lube finger and look for egg and some don't penetrate the chook so i don't know whats the right thing to do there )
fed a little water and corn by hand
rang some vets for advise all i got was bring it in.
over the counter drugs (in the US UK eg: baytril) not available with out consult

I love my chooks and they are pets more so then egg makers but I cant afford or justify a $100-$200 vet bill for a chook
Id like to do what I can but if I cant help her ill have to put her down

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

Hello Freezmac.

It sounds like your hen has egg yolk peritonitis.

Basically, when an egg budded off the ovary to go into the oviduct ( "uterus") it missed and ended up in the abdominal cavity. This yolk material is recognised as foreign by the body so it produces fluid to try & dilute it. This is why the abdomen feels "soft like a water balloon".

The causes are variable- sometimes it's just an accident. However it is very common in layer breeds which are kept alive longer past their "useful production life" - no disrespect intended. It can also be caused by underlying cancers or infections of the reproductive tract.

Draining the fluid from the abdomen will give the most immediate relief but you need to be careful not to puncture any vital organs. The skin needs to be cleaned & prepped at least with betadine or alcohol to stop bacteria being accidentally introduced inside the bird. This really should be done by a vet if you have no experience, however.

Draining the fluid is not curative- it just may buy the bird some time.

If she is really struggling then euthanasia may be the kindest option- sorry!

Good luck with her.

Parvo

freezmac · **Joined:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:35 am **Posts:** 4

Cheers for the reply
From what i've been reading sounds like that to me also.
Shes perked up a little im hand feeding and watering her. Shes passed alot of clear fluid with what looks like cooked eggwhite ill give her another day or 2 if she stays on the improve ill continue
Well if 9 months of a happy life free to rome and dig is all I could give her I'm happy to have done that much.
The other two are fretting her absence do you think its safe to let them have a little vistit (supervised)?

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

Yep, should be fine.

Unlikely to be an infectious cause & even if it is the others will already have been exposed.

Just watch that they don't pick on her!

cheers

freezmac · **Joined:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:35 am **Posts:** 4

well today she seems t have picked up a bit.
smashed a cob of corn where befor she only picked
more chooky noises moving more even playfull bit my toes as they do
fingers crossed ||X|//
\__/

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