Egg bound hen

[syngonium_confetti]

My family's 2-3 year old Rhode Island red hen hasn't been doing well recently. She's lethargic, trips often and uses her wings to stabilize herself, and lately her comb looks paler than normal. She also has a red spot on her chest. So far, I don't think she has bumblefoot, her feet look healthy. As for the red spot, I don't think she has sour crop either because when feeling her crop it was normal. I separated her from the others on Sept 30 and so far she hasn't layed an egg, so I'm pretty sure she's egg bound.
On Sept 30, she soaked in epsom salts for 15-20 minutes and did so again on Oct 2.
Going to the vet isn't an option... Is there anything that can be done at home to help egg bound hen besides epsom salt baths? Is the red spot on her chest something to worry about?
I would appreciate any thoughts or advice!

 

[ChicNmom]

Can you feel an egg?

Did you give her any extra calcium? Calcium citrate with vitamin D absorbs the best and will help with muscle contractions to push an egg out if that is what is going on. You can do that for a few days.

Is she by chance molting or getting ready to? Usually egg bound hens squat or walk funny or sit in a nest box.


Is she eating and drinking? Could she have a leg injury?

The red spot could be from resting on her chest or tripping

 

[Eggcessive]

The red spot is from pressure on her keel or breast bone. Hens who stay on the roost or lie around on the floor or ground because they are sick may get that. It can turn into a breast blister and an abscess with a hard scab. I would watch it, and if it blisters, clean it with iodine or chlorhexidene. How long ago did she lay an egg? Have her eggs been normal with hard shells? She could have a reproductive disorder or cancer. It is hard to know, but that could be why she is having balance issues. How do her legs look? Is there any swelling of her ankles or hocks? I agree that giving some human calcium citrate with D can help if she is egg bound.

 

[syngonium_confetti]

Thank you for responding so quickly!

To answer some questions:

• She gets adequate calcium in her diet; calcium supplemented feed, eggshells, forages in the yard daily. I could try giving her vitamin D.
• She's eating, drinking and pooping normally.
• I'm not sure when she last layed as some of the other hens also lay light brown eggs. All the eggs have been pretty normal looking with hard shells.
• She is molting right now and has a few pin feathers.
• Her legs and ankles look healthy without swelling.
• She doesn't appear to be injured. She looks tired and weak, causing her to lose her balance.

I feel bad about this happening to her... I've been busy lately so other family members have been caring for the chickens and it was noticed that Red (the chicken) wasn't acting normal. I was only told about Red's problem a few days ago.

 

[Eggcessive]

Even though she gets adequate calcium, I would still give her one dose of calcium with vitamin D to rule out egg binding. If she is molting, she may stop laying for the entirety of her molt.

 

[syngonium_confetti]

Even though she gets adequate calcium, I would still give her one dose of calcium with vitamin D to rule out egg binding. If she is molting, she may stop laying for the entirety of her molt.

Ok!