We lost a year old hen this past week. Hubby said she was standing up on the nest trying to pass a very large egg. This was a small golden comet. The egg broke. She looked dazed and weak. Hubby cleaned her up the best he could and isolated her in a small enclosed coop inside the barn. He gave her own water and food and put a heat lamp on. Next day she hadn't eaten or drank and her eyes were closed and her legs seemed stiff like rigamortis or something was setting in. She was about dead. He put her out of her misery.
I just wonder if anyone has any ideas of what might have killed her? Stroke? Heart attack? What are you supposed to do when an egg breaks half in and half out of the hen? I need to learn what to do if this happens again.
Thanks for any insight you might have.
Brenda
Michigan
Chicken died. Not sure why
I meant to type that the hen was two years old. Not one year old.
Hi Brenda: I think generally it would be good to lubricate the smallest finger and go in and gently try to remove the chards inside of her. Chards can be very sharp and do lots of damage internally. It would not be a fun task, but I would think that is want I would do. That still would not guarantee the damage outcome but would at least be the best attempt to save your hen. Those times are not the norm and you can only give your best efforts...Sorry about your loose...Hay
It sounds to me as if the broken egg must have caused damage internally. A tear in the intestine can cause toxic shock very quickly. You were right to put her down.
oh how sad
I'm so sorry about your loss, Brenda. You did the right thing for her.
Thank you all for your replies. At least next time if this happens to another hen I'll have some idea of what to try to do to save them. We've been very lucky to not have lost any others till this happened.