Calcium and egg bound - how fast does it work?

[porokelle]

Hello all,
I'm curious how fast the calcium supplements (ours is calcium and vitamin d) work for an egg bound hen (if low calcium is causing or an increase will help the issue)? Does it help to increase the contractions? How fast is it absorbed and typically begin working?


I'm curious as one of our girls was struggling for a second time in 2 months to lay. When we realized, we immediately gave her a smashed pill in scrambled egg. And about an hour later an egg was on the floor.

We weren't expecting her to be able to produce it so quickly when she had been acting a bit off all day and hadn't yet laid. She was quiet this time, unlike the last, and wasn't able to poop as much around the egg as last time - so we assumed she was in a worse state.

We also brought her in, did some Vaseline on the vent, she ate a lot more food and water containing food, gave her quiet and space.

 

[azygous]

It can take as little as an hour or as long as twenty-four.

The type of calcium can make absorption occur at different rates, though. Calcium carbonate is highest in calcium, but it can take longer to absorb than some other forms of calcium. The form I prefer for a hen in reproductive crisis where time is critical is calcium citrate. It's absorbed quickest.

 

[Shadrach]

As Azygous write, Calcium citrate is more easily absorbed and works fastest.
Vaseline is okay at a push but I highly recommend getting some coconut oil for use when a hen is eggbound. It's viscosity is lower and its lubrication properties better.

 

[porokelle]

It can take as little as an hour or as long as twenty-four.

The type of calcium can make absorption occur at different rates, though. Calcium carbonate is highest in calcium, but it can take longer to absorb than some other forms of calcium. The form I prefer for a hen in reproductive crisis where time is critical is calcium citrate. It's absorbed quickest.View attachment 3316910

Thank you! We have citrate, so that might be why it worked quickly. I might pick some of the carbonate, as it looks like we need to do a more regular supplement. She's either not processing it correctly or not taking up the oyster shell enough.

 

[porokelle]

As Azygous write, Calcium citrate is more easily absorbed and works fastest.
Vaseline is okay at a push but I highly recommend getting some coconut oil for use when a hen is eggbound. It's viscosity is lower and its lubrication properties better.

Thanks! We've got coconut oil; I will give that a try next time. Hopefully it makes it a bit easier for her.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks! We've got coconut oil; I will give that a try next time. Hopefully it makes it a bit easier for her.

I found that a pastry brush of all things made a good applicator for the cococnut oil. The problem being that a finger can't easily get in where the tight spots are.
With the brush once the egg and vagina wall is well coated close to the hgh friction point you can rock the egg out from underneath the hen sometimes.

 

[porokelle]

I found that a pastry brush of all things made a good applicator for the cococnut oil. The problem being that a finger can't easily get in where the tight spots are.
With the brush once the egg and vagina wall is well coated close to the hgh friction point you can rock the egg out from underneath the hen sometimes.

Is the friction point where the vagina meets cloaca and intestinal opening? Are the eggs typically stuck there? Possibly because of the turning of the egg before laying?

 

[bmaw]

It can take as little as an hour or as long as twenty-four.

The type of calcium can make absorption occur at different rates, though. Calcium carbonate is highest in calcium, but it can take longer to absorb than some other forms of calcium. The form I prefer for a hen in reproductive crisis where time is critical is calcium citrate. It's absorbed quickest.View attachment 3316910

I suspected my hen was egg bound or maybe had remnants of an egg/shell stuck (she's been laying fairy eggs, soft shell deformed fairy eggs, double soft shell eggs and recently just yolk/white) I didn't feel anything inside her vent about a fingertip in. Still I gave her one of these and nothing passed. Should I assume nothing is there to pass?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I suspected my hen was egg bound or maybe had remnants of an egg/shell stuck (she's been laying fairy eggs, soft shell deformed fairy eggs, double soft shell eggs and recently just yolk/white) I didn't feel anything inside her vent about a fingertip in. Still I gave her one of these and nothing passed. Should I assume nothing is there to pass?

No, you don't assume she has nothing to pass.
Have you been giving her Calcium daily as suggested on your thread and as suggested in queries you have made on other threads?
Get the Calcium into her daily, see that she's staying hydrated.

Calciu citrate 600mg with vitamin D3 is needed with astuck egg. Give it daily until she gets the egg out.

Edit: I think she may have a soft shell still inside of her. She passed what looks to be 1/2 of the double egg on 2/16 (both photos below) Usually she perks up afterwards, but she kept behaving like she still needed to lay. How can I try to remove it?

You keep giving the calcium once a day to encourage contractions and she will eventually pass the rest of the egg. If she passes and runny yolk, you will need to give her an oral antibiotic.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/possible-blockage-not-eating-pooping-urates.1565106/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/only-urate-poop.1551094/post-26561513
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/only-urate-poop.1551094/post-26561637

 

[bmaw]

I suspected my hen was egg bound or maybe had remnants of an egg/shell stuck (she's been laying fairy eggs, soft shell deformed fairy eggs, double soft shell eggs and recently just yolk/white) I didn't feel anything inside her vent about a fingertip in. Still I gave her one of these and nothing passed. Should I assume nothing is there to pass?

I didnt know how much could be too much wo phosphorus balance. Shes only 3.5lbs.