Snowy Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 In all my years of chicken keeping (OK, only 6, but it seems like forever) I've never had the worry of dealing with an egg bound hen. But I've read my fair share of topics about it! Ping looked a bit peaky this morning before i went to work, but couldn't do anything about it as I was literally about to go out. Asked hubby to keep an eye on her and when I got home he reported that there had been no change. She was sitting down, if she tried to walk it was an effort - almost as if her legs were paralysed - I immediately panicked and thought mareks! Picked her up and gave her the once over - ah ha! Bulging vent and the white tip of an egg! Bundled her into the operating theatre (the greenhouse) in a box and got a bowl of warm water, fluffy towel, gloves and a big tub of vaseline. Dunked in the water for a few minutes to try and relax everything, vaselined the tip of the egg then started trying to smooth the egg out by stroking her abdomen. Nothing doing - it appears that the cloaca was stuck to the egg shell, it must have been like trying to pass sandpaper, poor baby! Eventually the end of the egg caved in a little - it was a very thin shell, so I enlarged the hole and managed to get a better grip on the shell and ease it out - this was when I wished I had taken a pair of tweezers with me as I was worried I had broken the egg inside her. Thanks to the egg membrane though, it did all slide out in one piece. Dunked her back in the warm water to rest for a minute and allow her vent to contract. Quick check to make sure all had gone back to normal (it had) then wrapped her in the fluffy towel for a dry and a cuddle. Phew! I felt like a paramedic assisting with a birth! Once dry, I put her back in the run. She was still a bit wobbly, but perked up and ran for some corn when I threw it in the run I just hope this was a first egg blip and that it won't be a regular occurrence - I know one of them has been laying thin shelled eggs as I've found a few on the eglu bars - I couldn't go through that much excitement every time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Well done! I hope it was a one off!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Oh no poor Ping. Well done Snowy. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Good grief that sounds like quite an operation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Wow Snowy well done, lucky Ping that you were there with you flashing blue light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Poor girlie Well done though C! Hopefully she'll get into the swing of things + be alright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 Thanks Plum! Lewis - I do hope so! I always expected to have problems with the hybrids but not the pekins! Been out to check up on them this morning (before I get all dressed up for work - just in case!) and she seems fine. Maybe not quite as ebullient as normal - maybe poor little girl is still feeling a bit rough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Snowy she could have some inflamation or infection in her laying tackle so I'd watch out for her producing excess fluid if she doesn't pick up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Well done. Watching those episodes of Send For the Midwife paid off in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Well done. Watching those episodes of Send For the Midwife paid off in the end. well done Snowy, let's hope it's the only one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Well done The only time it happened to me the egg was so far up I couldn't do a thing about it. £35 later the vet kindly delivered it for me - it remains the single most expensive egg I've ever had However, my girl recovered well and has been the most excellent layer ever since, so lets hope Ping is the same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
