When all other remedies have failed to get your hen to pass her egg or eggs that are stuck inside of her. Egg bound remedies, causes, and how to remove an egg from an egg bound hen. The following featured video demonstrates how it can be done.
Egg-bound Causes, Symptoms & Remedies
When an egg gets stuck while trying to exit the oviduct it is called egg bound. There are several possible reasons a hen will get egg bound.
Egg bound causes
How to tell if your hen is egg bound How to remove a stuck egg from your hen
If your hen cannot expel her egg on her own you should take her to a poultry and livestock veterinarian to have the egg removed. We highly recommend having this procedure done by a licensed veterinarian who has performed this procedure previously. If you cannot go to a veterinarian and she does not expel the egg on her own, you may need to remove the egg for her. Be aware that your hen may or may not survive the procedure depending on how long she has been egg bound, her physical condition at the time of removal, and if the procedure is done correctly.
What you will need to remove the egg
You can hold your hen over a pan of warm not hot water (be careful to check to make sure the water is not so hot as to steam burn her). Try to get her to relax as much as possible so that the muscles inside the oviduct will relax so the removal of the egg will be easier.
How to remove an egg stuck inside your hen
You should not do this yourself. You should have a licensed veterinarian do it while she is under anesthesia. Gently insert sterile, gloved finger into the cloaca while using your other hand to very carefully squeeze the egg out. If you cannot remove the egg using this method you may need to use a sterile, sharp object to very gently break the egg shell (not recommended) then gently remove the shell fragments. (Make sure you have removed all of the shell fragments).
What to do after the egg has been removed
Gently cleanse the vent area with warm soapy water, then rinse, and gently pat dry. Spray a topical Vetrycin antibiotic on the outside vent area and alternate water soluble antibiotics and electrolytes for poultry.
When an egg gets stuck while trying to exit the oviduct it is called egg bound. There are several possible reasons a hen will get egg bound.
Egg bound causes
- Larger than normal egg
- Weak muscles
- Shell is too hard or too soft
How to tell if your hen is egg bound How to remove a stuck egg from your hen
If your hen cannot expel her egg on her own you should take her to a poultry and livestock veterinarian to have the egg removed. We highly recommend having this procedure done by a licensed veterinarian who has performed this procedure previously. If you cannot go to a veterinarian and she does not expel the egg on her own, you may need to remove the egg for her. Be aware that your hen may or may not survive the procedure depending on how long she has been egg bound, her physical condition at the time of removal, and if the procedure is done correctly.
What you will need to remove the egg
- Non powdered, sterilized surgical gloves
- Sharp sterile object
- Pan of hot water
You can hold your hen over a pan of warm not hot water (be careful to check to make sure the water is not so hot as to steam burn her). Try to get her to relax as much as possible so that the muscles inside the oviduct will relax so the removal of the egg will be easier.
How to remove an egg stuck inside your hen
You should not do this yourself. You should have a licensed veterinarian do it while she is under anesthesia. Gently insert sterile, gloved finger into the cloaca while using your other hand to very carefully squeeze the egg out. If you cannot remove the egg using this method you may need to use a sterile, sharp object to very gently break the egg shell (not recommended) then gently remove the shell fragments. (Make sure you have removed all of the shell fragments).
What to do after the egg has been removed
Gently cleanse the vent area with warm soapy water, then rinse, and gently pat dry. Spray a topical Vetrycin antibiotic on the outside vent area and alternate water soluble antibiotics and electrolytes for poultry.
- Watch for signs of shock
- Keep hen separate from the rest of the flock until her health returns
- Administer antibiotics according to the directions (Duremyacin-10 works well).
- Give her electrolytes in her water(alternating with water soluble antibiotics).
- Giver her soft food for the first two days
- If caged make sure the cage is kept clean and dry (No bedding) until recovery is complete.
- Check vent area for egg, pus, white or bloody discharge.
- Give the hen a warm bath in Epsom salts the day after egg removal being sure that she does not get chilled during the process.
- Keep her covered until completely dry
- Monitor her progress (write it down-take pictures) for her health program records, and for future reference if you have another egg bound hen in the future.
Featured Video: Eggbound chicken, home brew cure
References:
1. S. Fitzpatrick and R. Morton, (June, 2010). Biosecurity and Product Integrity, Darwin. Non infectious diseases of poultry. http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Content/File/p/Anim_Dis/667.pdf
2. Eggbound chicken,home brew cure. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 26 April 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6EhOuvQWnk
1. S. Fitzpatrick and R. Morton, (June, 2010). Biosecurity and Product Integrity, Darwin. Non infectious diseases of poultry. http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Content/File/p/Anim_Dis/667.pdf
2. Eggbound chicken,home brew cure. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 26 April 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6EhOuvQWnk