Egg bound or something else?

Denim Deb

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Yesterday I noticed one of my hens was walking like a penguin. First thought that came to my mind was that she was egg bound. When I got home, I did an internet search, and yep, the symptoms seemed to fit. I also checked to see what to do. So this morning, I heated up some water, and soaked her butt for 1/2 an hour. Put her back in the pen, but I didn't notice her doing any better. Waited a few hours and did the same. I also warned her that if it didn't work this time, I was going to have to do something neither of us liked.

When I took her out the 2nd time, I noticed she had pooped in the water-but that was it. So, as much as I hated to do it, I put on a rubber glove, got some Vaseline on the one finger and poked around some. I didn't feel anything that felt like a stuck egg. :hu The other hens had been picking on her, so I put her in the area I had the chicks, made sure she had food and water and left her.

She's eating and drinking, but still is walking like a penguin-if she even moves. So, would you say she's egg bound, maybe got stepped on by a horse, or something else?
 

mississippifarmboy

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Not sure if she's egg-bound, got stepped on or what, but if the others are picking on her and they haven't been before, it's a sure sign something is wrong with her. If she keeps eating, drinking and pooping it's a good sign though.

Sorry I'm not more help. I've got hundreds of chickens but I don't medicate much.
 

Bettacreek

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She could very well be injured. My roo is doing the penguin stuff, but he's certainly not egg-bound. His leg is injured, which we believe to be thanks to the lamb stepping on him. :/ I hope your girl gets better, and quickly!
 

Denim Deb

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mississippifarmboy said:
Not sure if she's egg-bound, got stepped on or what, but if the others are picking on her and they haven't been before, it's a sure sign something is wrong with her. If she keeps eating, drinking and pooping it's a good sign though.

Sorry I'm not more help. I've got hundreds of chickens but I don't medicate much.
I don't medicate much either. As long as she's eating, drinking and pooping, I'll let her go. But, if she's not doing good, I'll put her down rather than have her suffer.
 

MuranoFarms

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Sounds egg bound to me. I agree the eating and drinking are good signs. I would try the warm water bath again.

Good luck!
 

Denim Deb

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From what I've read, if she were egg bound, she would have died w/in 48 hours. She hasn't and is walking a bit better. So, I'm thinking she might have gotten stepped on.
 

Denim Deb

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Well, I lost her. I found her dead this morning. I didn't have time to do a necropsy this morning, plus was still feeling sick to my stomach, so I didn't bother w/her. So, I'm going on the assumption that she was either egg bound-but it was up high, she had a tumor or something else wrong w/her. But if I had to lose one, I was glad it was her, and not one of the others. I wasn't sure if she was laying, plus she had a bit of a crooked beak.
 

Hinotori

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That sucks. I'm sorry you lost her.

She could have been an internal layer.

I have one of those right now. She was acting like that and I checked her out. Warm baths and all. There was an egg down below that was apparently thin shelled and broke in her but was pressing enough on another egg she was trying to lay. I oiled her up some and gave her another bath.

I expected her to die months ago since not much can do about internal laying without expensive vet visit. She perked up after the baths and acts totally normal now. I'm not going to kill her if she's not in any discomfort.
 
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