An egg-bound chicken happens when she’s straining to produce an egg for more than a few hours. This can happen due to low calcium levels, poor nutrition, excessive laying, premature egg production, old age, trauma, obesity or mycotoxins.
Symptoms: frequent nestbox sitting, trying to lay eggs without producing any, depression, tail wagging, abdominal distension (accumulated feces on feathers below the vent), sleeping in the nestbox or ground, increased respiratory rate, cyanosis (deep purple/blue comb), lameness.
Diagnosis: Palpation to see if an egg can be felt through the abdomen, xRays or ultrasound.
Treatment: Placing a hen in a relaxing environment away from her flock, in a dark room with comfortable temperatures, can help. Can also try a lukewarm bath in shallow water for 5 to 10 minutes,, without any other birds or in an environment where the can can relax. Massaging the hen’s abdomen very gently with olive oil, BE CAREFUL not to break the egg inside the hen, this can lead to Egg-yolk Peritonitis. A lubricant such as KY Jelly may help the chicken pass the egg. If nothing is helping, veterinary intervention is required, and the hen may need surgery.
Reference: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/egg-binding
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