What’s wrong with this hen? Egg bound?

[MDChickenlover]

My hen has been doing the penguin walk for a few days now and I finally caught her and got a good look. Her lower abdomen is very enlarged and I feel a large hard mass in it. It feels much bigger than an egg. Should I try an epsom salt soak or is this something else? She is still eating and drinking and energetic enough to run away from me when I tried to check her out. Haven’t seen her poop.

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh my that looks pretty large doesn’t it? Since it is large and firm, it might be salpingitis or masses of lash egg material deposited in the abdomen, or possibly cancer of her oviduct. Sometimes we can get an answer after we lose them when we can open the abdomen and look at the organs. Calcium tablet with vitamin d 300-600 mg is what may help if she is egg bound. If you can see her poop, take a picture. Look to see if her normally white urates or whit cap is yellow.

 

[sillyduckz]

an warm epsom salt soak wouldnt hurt as long as it isn't excessively stressful for her, we want to avoid her thrashing/fighting as it may potentially damage the egg if she is eggbound. supplemental calcium as stated above will
be your best option for now but this is best seen by a vet if that is an option for you. supportive care with isolation and fluids would be beneficial. good luck, please keep us updated!

 

[tnctx]

Oh my that looks pretty large doesn’t it? Since it is large and firm, it might be salpingitis or masses of lash egg material deposited in the abdomen, or possibly cancer of her oviduct. Sometimes we can get an answer after we lose them when we can open the abdomen and look at the organs. Calcium tablet with vitamin d 300-600 mg is what may help if she is egg bound. If you can see her poop, take a picture. Look to see if her normally white urates or whit cap is yellow

 

[tnctx]

Hi! I need some help with my 2y/o Red Sex Link hen Lavern. She is lethargic, poor appetite, pale comb and wattles, frothy greenish-yellow poop, and she has passed three neat-like masses. I think she may be egg bound. She had a 20 min epsom salt bath after which she passed the third and largest mass yet. (I don’t have a pic off the first one she passed last wk.) The biggest masses came out with the poop that’s pictured. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[tnctx]

Hi! I need some help with my 2y/o Red Sex Link hen Lavern. She is lethargic, poor appetite, pale comb and wattles, frothy greenish-yellow poop, and she has passed three neat-like masses. I think she may be egg bound. She had a 20 min epsom salt bath after which she passed the third and largest mass yet. (I don’t have a pic off the first one she passed last wk.) The biggest masses came out with the poop that’s pictured. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Update on Laverne. She has salpingitis. She is resting well and appears to be in no pain BUT the overall prognosis isn’t bright. Her laying days over and we’re hearing longevity is in the 4-6 month range. We will love her for as long as she feels like hanging around. She and her sister Shirley were our first two chicks in 2023; true sweeties.