Hi there,
Our approx. 18 wk old EE pullet is apparently having a hard time pushing out an egg. This started yesterday afternoon. She just stood in the yard, all hunched up and flexing her rump. We've tried the warm butt bath several times and she was better this morning. Still not interested in eating though. Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
Deb
Egg bound?
Has she already been laying eggs? If so then you could put on a rubber glove and see if you can feel the egg inside her. Be sure to lube up the glove with some oil. It may also be helpful to lube her vent area with oil.
This message was edited Jul 27, 2010 7:46 AM
I have a standard Cochin that just started laying...I didn't realise she was in trouble until I noticed two very small eggs in the nest box streaked with blood and a very unhappy looking Yvonne who refused to come off her perch and whose backside was streaked with excrement.
She had laid both eggs at once after I think what must have been at least two days of straining and then prolapsed. By the time I realised how serious it was she was already "fly blown", meaning there were maggots feeding in the prolapse.
I never thought she would pull through or be able to lay again...it tooks a couple of weeks and eventually I just put her out with the other chickens not expecting her to make it, but thinking she needed the chance to live a normal, if short, life.
Upshot, she is laying normally....the eggs are still small, but getting larger and I had three for breakfast. I do think if your pullet is having a hard time, there is a distinct possibility she may prolapse. Don't give up if that happens! This is the site that helped save Yvonne (the honey treatment is a real lifesaver):
http://bravechickens.blogspot.com/2009/12/000-i-have-prolapsed-hen.html
Hi Catscan,
Oh, poor Yvonne! That sounds like it must have been a terrible ordeal for both of you! Luckily Seren is doing much better. Lizzie (the 16 yo. chicken handler) stayed up all night with her, giving her warm baths. It apparently did the trick. She was back to normal in the morning. Her first egg was bigger than her second, and she's not the biggest chicken the flock. I'm actually surprised that she was the second to lay because she is so much smaller than the others. Mother Nature is keeping us on our toes!