Unsecure chicken perches

[AgaSaga]

Hi

 

Just took one of my hens to the vet this morning as as last night I found her all hunched up and poorly. He said her abdomen was swollen and she is egg bound. He has given her an antibiotic jab and suggested I put her in her carrier in a steamy bathroom for 1 hour at a time.

Ive made her an omlette with crushed egg shell in it (also at his suggestion) but she looks really poorly and just isnt touching it.

My question is, in between her 'steam treatments' in the bathroom should I place the carrier outside with the other girls so she isnt isolated from them? If she does recover I don't want them picking on her.....or will they realise its the same hen coming back into the group? Or perhaps it is more important she is kept warm?

 

Hoping someone can offer some advice.

 

Thanks

 

Pam

[Daphne]

If you take a look on the forum there are some threads where people have successfully held their hens over a steam bath to help release the egg; this would be a bit more effective than just using the steam which is in the atmosphere. In between attempts personally I would keep the hen somewhere dark and quiet, so she is not unduly stressed, probably in a cat carrier or similar indoors. I suppose you do run the risk of a bit of beakicuffs if she is out of the group for while, but I've never had any problems and lets hope she recovers quickly anyway. In any case, I think looking after her current wellbeing should be top priority and she may get hassled if she stays with the group now.

 

Being egg bound does make them feel rubbish so I'm not surprised she isn't eating - tempt her periodically with whatever she likes best and try to get liquids into her; sometimes a porridge made with pellets and water and topped with the treat of choice will work - I find ill birds are more likely to eat from my fingers than the bowl, or at least I have to hold the bowl up to the beak

[Olly]

I would keep her away from the others until she is looking better - firstly there is the risk that she will be picked on, and secondly the effort of trying to maintain her position in the pecking order will put more strain on her. As mentioned by Daphne, 'steaming' over warm water could help.

 

There's a helpful sticky here.

[Finn McMissile]

Hello,

 

Sounds like something that happened to one of our chickens recently.

I posted an article about it here:

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/684913/egg-bound-chicken-or-what

 

Please copy and paste the above link into your browser to read it, as no one has replied to it yet on the forum, and we really need some help.

 

Thank you!

 

Finn

[Egluntyne]

Finn, it looks as if you hen has laid what is known as a 'lash'. Info here. There doesn't seem to be a definitive answer as to what causes these. All sorts of theories abound, from the lining of the oviduct being shed, to shell-less yolks, or infected matter being expelled.

 

She might perk up now that she has got rid of it, but it could be that she will not lay again. It might be worth taking her to the vet for a look-see.

 

I would cut back on all the additives you are giving her and keep her just on pellets and water for the time being. All the other stuff may interfere with her absorbing the right amount of 'good' nutrients.

[AgaSaga]

Thank you everyone for your advice....I put together a 'steam bath crate' but she didnt pass anything and she just got weaker and passed away later that day. Its the first time one of my hens have been poorly so it was a bit of a shock to the system as one minute she was fine and happy and then a few hours later not moving and huddling down and seemed so weak. All very sad, but I also know what to look out for now.

 

Thanks again

[Jofitch31]

I'm really sorry for your loss. This is really sad. I'm really worrying about one of my hens (Nigella - have posted a separate thread) and I'm really hoping it isn't something serious like this.

Hope your other hens are all doing well.