This hen is not enjoying a relaxing day at the spa. She is egg bound. That means she is having trouble laying her egg. This is not good, so naturally, I was very worried about my Buff Orpington, Miss Buttercup, because she had not laid an egg for a whole week, since she laid her first egg.
Now, I realize that hens who start laying are not always consistent, especially in the winter months, but a week? This situation was enough to drive a new chickener like me loco ! I was nearly starting to panic, but thankfully there is this think-tank called the Interweb; a wondrous resource where one can glean valuable information quickly. And then of course, as with most aliments, I realized that there are causes, symptoms that accompany them, and cures or the best cure being prevention.
So instead of panicking, I needed to find out if my little Buttercup was indeed suffering from a stuck egg, how it happened if it all, and how to cure or even prevent it in the future. Also, I decided to consider that she might just be taking her sweet time in laying another egg, or if she might be an egg laying "dud." As it turned out, this morning I discovered that my Buttercup wasn't egg bound, she gifted me a perfect egg this morning, and with it, a great deal of relief! But this is what I learned as a result of researching this condition, which I supposed she had.
Now, I realize that hens who start laying are not always consistent, especially in the winter months, but a week? This situation was enough to drive a new chickener like me loco ! I was nearly starting to panic, but thankfully there is this think-tank called the Interweb; a wondrous resource where one can glean valuable information quickly. And then of course, as with most aliments, I realized that there are causes, symptoms that accompany them, and cures or the best cure being prevention.
So instead of panicking, I needed to find out if my little Buttercup was indeed suffering from a stuck egg, how it happened if it all, and how to cure or even prevent it in the future. Also, I decided to consider that she might just be taking her sweet time in laying another egg, or if she might be an egg laying "dud." As it turned out, this morning I discovered that my Buttercup wasn't egg bound, she gifted me a perfect egg this morning, and with it, a great deal of relief! But this is what I learned as a result of researching this condition, which I supposed she had.
Symptoms To Look For
Being egg bound, as you can well imagine, is not a good thing, and is a legitimate cause for alarm for a chicken owner, since it can kill a chicken, and can do so in one of several ways. Death will occur either by the condition itself left untreated, or sometimes by the cure. Whether that be breaking the egg inside the hen or trying to manually help the removal of the egg. Breaking the egg is the last resort because it can cause an infection known as septicemia, which occurs because part of the egg has remained in the area where it was broken. Peritonitis can also set in due to fragments of shell that cut or ruptured the area of the breakage, or inside her vent where great care was not taken while trying to insert a finger or other instrument inside the vent. But before I get ahead of things, first things first....what symptoms should you look for?
According to experienced chickeners, there are many symptoms that accompany the condition of being egg bound, but these symptoms can be caused by other conditions as well. To avoid hysteria, or overreacting, one must know what to look for, and how to treat the condition. So here are the symptoms I have found on different websites:
- Loss of appetite
- Not drinking water
- Abdominal straining, or pumping
- Frequency of sitting on the nest w/out laying an egg
- Passing excessively wet droppings, or no droppings (eggs and poop share the same opening)
- Abnormal behavior such as listlessness in a calm bird, or calmness in a skittish bird
- Abnormal movements such as: shaking or dragging wings, walking like a duck, or penguin
- Abnormal appearance such as: drooping, depressed, or pale combs and/or wattles; closed, or watery eyes
- A swollen, red vent (maybe with the egg in view), a prolapse, or egg white leaking from the vent
The Treatments
Good news, newbie! Thankfully, this condition is rather rare, so you may not even experience it. But if you do, then there is hope for you and your suffering chook (Aussie slang for chicken)! If this rare condition is caught early, then the cure will be much easier, than if it has gone on too long. Dare I say, an un-swollen vent is easier to help an egg pass through, than an angry hiney? But even though there are things you can do to help your hen through this time, there are still things that can go wrong. So as always, a good chickener, is one who is aware of the daily condition of their flock. Now then, here are some treatments that are covered by an experienced chickener, Suzie Baldwin, in video form.
Besides the steam method, I also encountered the sits bath cure (pictured above). This is done by filling a plastic bin, or even your sink, or tub with some warm water (no hotter then 115 F to avoid making chicken soup), and placing the affected bird in it for 20 to 30 min. Some chickeners recommend adding Epsom salt, which can only help, since its mineral content is supposed to help alleviate pain and swelling. Also gently messaging the abdomen is recommended will help your hen relax her muscles. Hopefully your hen won't do this all the time just to get this special treatment! Don't forget to completely dry off your wet hen before you let her back outside, to avoid catching cold, especially if it is chilly out.
After the sits bath, if no egg is produced, then you can also try to move things along by de-stressing your bird with some R&R, by sequestering the egg bound bird in a warm, quiet spot, and feed the chicken some olive oil laced feed, if she will take it, and let nature take its course. Or gently give her some water with Epsom salt, or olive oil through a dropper if she won't drink water on her own.
If the spa, and R&R treatments don't work, then move on to the ehem... gynecological/proctological treatment. The important thing to remember is to be GENTILE and take it slowly and carefully while trying to manipulate the egg toward and out of the vent. When using a lubricant, it is recommended to only use petroleum based lubricants such as Vaseline, or KY Jelly since, they won't go rancid like vegetable, or animal based lubricants such as olive and corn oil, or butter.
Breaking, or collapsing, the egg is the absolute last resort, and should be done knowing that death could still result. If done carefully, collapsing the egg, like deflating a balloon, will allow the egg to pass easily. If you have a good vet that handles chickens, then you may want to just take the hen there, but be prepared to shell out a lot of oyster shells for their assistance, which depending on the situation, could still result in a dead chicken. Seriously, my husband would take the hen to a Vietnamese neighbor, before he would take it to the vet. He would make a very good farmer. I would only recommend breaking, or imploding an egg if you can see it, or feel it near the vent, which is a definite confirmation of the problem.
If the first two treatments don't produce results (a laid egg), then you may have misdiagnosed the problem, so more trouble shooting is in order.
After the sits bath, if no egg is produced, then you can also try to move things along by de-stressing your bird with some R&R, by sequestering the egg bound bird in a warm, quiet spot, and feed the chicken some olive oil laced feed, if she will take it, and let nature take its course. Or gently give her some water with Epsom salt, or olive oil through a dropper if she won't drink water on her own.
If the spa, and R&R treatments don't work, then move on to the ehem... gynecological/proctological treatment. The important thing to remember is to be GENTILE and take it slowly and carefully while trying to manipulate the egg toward and out of the vent. When using a lubricant, it is recommended to only use petroleum based lubricants such as Vaseline, or KY Jelly since, they won't go rancid like vegetable, or animal based lubricants such as olive and corn oil, or butter.
Breaking, or collapsing, the egg is the absolute last resort, and should be done knowing that death could still result. If done carefully, collapsing the egg, like deflating a balloon, will allow the egg to pass easily. If you have a good vet that handles chickens, then you may want to just take the hen there, but be prepared to shell out a lot of oyster shells for their assistance, which depending on the situation, could still result in a dead chicken. Seriously, my husband would take the hen to a Vietnamese neighbor, before he would take it to the vet. He would make a very good farmer. I would only recommend breaking, or imploding an egg if you can see it, or feel it near the vent, which is a definite confirmation of the problem.
If the first two treatments don't produce results (a laid egg), then you may have misdiagnosed the problem, so more trouble shooting is in order.
Cause and Prevention
Avoiding this distressing condition, in my opinion, is the best way to cure it. But how does this rare occurrence happen to chickens? There are several causes for this condition, and many of them can be avoided while some can't. Things that can't be avoided are hereditary, like the size of your chicken's pelvis. If your bird's pelvis is too small, then laying eggs, especially large eggs, will be difficult.
Deficiencies
Calcium
Your bird may not be getting enough calcium, which not only helps form the shell of the egg, but also aides in muscular contractions that are used in laying the egg. So if you notice that your hen is pumping out eggs with rubbery, or very thin shells, then it is a sign that she needs to be given some extra calcium. This can be done by providing her with dark leafy greens like romaine lettuce, a free choice calcium bar of oyster shells, and/or well rinsed and dried egg shells, just don't mix it with the feed. There are also liquid forms of calcium that can be placed in the hen's water, just follow the directions carefully. Most layer feeds have more than enough calcium, but for what ever reason, that hen needs a little more. So take the hint, and avoid the possibility of the hen suffering by becoming egg bound.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D aides in the absorption and assimilation of calcium, and it is acquired mostly by sunlight, but also in the chicken's feed. There are of course several types of Vitamin D, but to keep things easier, just make sure your girls are getting a good amount of sunshine every day, and a well balance layer feed.
Fat
Many vitamins such as A, D, E, and K are fat soluble, so a certain amount of fat is required for optimum hen health. Many commercial feeds do contain a percentage of fat, as well as allowing a bird to free range to dig up and nibble on their own, they will ensure they get enough fat to allow for proper egg production and to keep warm in colder months.
Protein
Not enough protein can make a chicken too weak, or to not develop enough muscle to lay an egg, but this is very rare. The bird would almost have to be starved on purpose for that to happen. By providing adequate feed that is formulated for laying hens, then this is not a problem.
Too much of a good thing
Calcium
Just as not having enough calcium is bad, having too much is also bad. It can damage the chickens kidneys and effect their eggs by making them bumpy and dimply, and makes them harder to pass, than smooth shelled eggs.
Vitamin D
Too much Vitamin D can cause problems as well, something called hypercalcemia, which is when too much calcium is in the blood. This is why many organic chickeners frown upon the practice of placing artificial light in chicken coops. We would do well to honor God by yielding to the production/rest cycles that he created. When we mess with these cycles artificially, then only bad things can, and often do, happen.
Fat
Too much fat in a chickens diet can be a bad thing, as with most creatures, and can make egg laying difficult, if not stop the process entirely. Corn based treats should be avoided during summer months, when less fat is required to help the bird stay warm.
Protein
Too much protein can cause problems with the size of eggs being produced in relation to the size of its pelvis, and even lead to them becoming too fat. Many chickeners have reported elevated aggression in birds that have had too much protein, and I would imagine this is rather stressful, not a good thing for a chicken's laying schedule.
Deficiencies
Calcium
Your bird may not be getting enough calcium, which not only helps form the shell of the egg, but also aides in muscular contractions that are used in laying the egg. So if you notice that your hen is pumping out eggs with rubbery, or very thin shells, then it is a sign that she needs to be given some extra calcium. This can be done by providing her with dark leafy greens like romaine lettuce, a free choice calcium bar of oyster shells, and/or well rinsed and dried egg shells, just don't mix it with the feed. There are also liquid forms of calcium that can be placed in the hen's water, just follow the directions carefully. Most layer feeds have more than enough calcium, but for what ever reason, that hen needs a little more. So take the hint, and avoid the possibility of the hen suffering by becoming egg bound.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D aides in the absorption and assimilation of calcium, and it is acquired mostly by sunlight, but also in the chicken's feed. There are of course several types of Vitamin D, but to keep things easier, just make sure your girls are getting a good amount of sunshine every day, and a well balance layer feed.
Fat
Many vitamins such as A, D, E, and K are fat soluble, so a certain amount of fat is required for optimum hen health. Many commercial feeds do contain a percentage of fat, as well as allowing a bird to free range to dig up and nibble on their own, they will ensure they get enough fat to allow for proper egg production and to keep warm in colder months.
Protein
Not enough protein can make a chicken too weak, or to not develop enough muscle to lay an egg, but this is very rare. The bird would almost have to be starved on purpose for that to happen. By providing adequate feed that is formulated for laying hens, then this is not a problem.
Too much of a good thing
Calcium
Just as not having enough calcium is bad, having too much is also bad. It can damage the chickens kidneys and effect their eggs by making them bumpy and dimply, and makes them harder to pass, than smooth shelled eggs.
Vitamin D
Too much Vitamin D can cause problems as well, something called hypercalcemia, which is when too much calcium is in the blood. This is why many organic chickeners frown upon the practice of placing artificial light in chicken coops. We would do well to honor God by yielding to the production/rest cycles that he created. When we mess with these cycles artificially, then only bad things can, and often do, happen.
Fat
Too much fat in a chickens diet can be a bad thing, as with most creatures, and can make egg laying difficult, if not stop the process entirely. Corn based treats should be avoided during summer months, when less fat is required to help the bird stay warm.
Protein
Too much protein can cause problems with the size of eggs being produced in relation to the size of its pelvis, and even lead to them becoming too fat. Many chickeners have reported elevated aggression in birds that have had too much protein, and I would imagine this is rather stressful, not a good thing for a chicken's laying schedule.
All And All
By learning to read the signs you are given by your hens and the eggs they have been producing, and then learning how to act accordingly, you can be proactive in contributing the health and well being of your flock. Remember, this condition is fairly rare (thank God!), and there are symptoms that misshapen or not completely formed eggs can be cluing you in on. Clues that will allow you to avoid your hen becoming egg bound. I hope you've learned a little something, thanks to my near hysterical egg bound chicken panic attack. I know I did!