Images, symptoms and treatment for egg bound hens. If your hen is waddling, walking upright like a penguin, and stops laying eggs, she is most likely egg bound. Egg binding can make your hen very sick and even kill her. The following are a list of signs, symptoms, causes, and treatments to help your egg bound hen.
What does egg bound or impacted egg mean?
Egg bound or impacted egg means that a fully formed egg which is too large has lodged itself in the shell gland or vagina of the bird. This condition happens most often to young hens who have just started egg production before their body was developed enough and to overweight hens. Another major reason for egg peritonitis is calcium deficiency. Calcium supplements should be your first line of defense against Egg peritonitis.
Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency are:
Brittle egg shells
Lameness
Weakness
Skelatal deformity
Crippling
Osteoporosis-when calcium is drawn from the birds bones to form egg shells due to a calcium deficiency
Poor growth and development (Adelaideschickensittingservice.com, 2018).
See photos of advanced stages of egg bound hen and more below.
Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency are:
Brittle egg shells
- Soft shelled eggs
Lameness
Weakness
Skelatal deformity
Crippling
Osteoporosis-when calcium is drawn from the birds bones to form egg shells due to a calcium deficiency
Poor growth and development (Adelaideschickensittingservice.com, 2018).
See photos of advanced stages of egg bound hen and more below.
Causes of Egg Bound or Impacted Hens (Why Eggs Get Stuck)
The main reasons hens get egg bound are:
Double yolked eggs and very large eggs tend to get stuck.
Hypocalcemia-A calcium deficiency in the blood stream
Calcium Tetany-Intermittent muscle spasms caused by a calcium deficiency
Roosts or nest boxes are too high which can cause injury when jumping down or up
Previous Trauma (usually pecking) to the vent and/or vagina that obstructs the oviposition.
"It occurs more often during spring and summer months because of overstimulation of birds by increasing light intensity and day length, which can be compounded by rapid increases in the amount of feed and/or excessive protein (lysine). This is a medical emergency in pet birds but is usually recognized only during necropsy (another word for autopsy) in commercial poultry. When impaction occurs, eggs that continue to form create layers of albumen and yolk material, and the oviduct becomes very large. Some eggs are refluxed to the abdominal cavity (abdominal laying), and affected hens assume a penguin-like posture" (Merck Veterinary Manuel, 2018).
Double yolked eggs and very large eggs tend to get stuck.
Hypocalcemia-A calcium deficiency in the blood stream
Calcium Tetany-Intermittent muscle spasms caused by a calcium deficiency
Roosts or nest boxes are too high which can cause injury when jumping down or up
Previous Trauma (usually pecking) to the vent and/or vagina that obstructs the oviposition.
"It occurs more often during spring and summer months because of overstimulation of birds by increasing light intensity and day length, which can be compounded by rapid increases in the amount of feed and/or excessive protein (lysine). This is a medical emergency in pet birds but is usually recognized only during necropsy (another word for autopsy) in commercial poultry. When impaction occurs, eggs that continue to form create layers of albumen and yolk material, and the oviduct becomes very large. Some eggs are refluxed to the abdominal cavity (abdominal laying), and affected hens assume a penguin-like posture" (Merck Veterinary Manuel, 2018).
Signs & Symptoms of Egg Bound or Impacted egg in hens
Inspect your hens daily after egg laying time. If you notice that your hen is laying soft shell eggs, it may be an indication that she is getting ready to molt (feather loss), has an infection, has injured herself, or is egg bound (has an egg stuck inside of her). If the egg has been inside her more than one day it is likely that she has already developed an infection so it is important to start her on antibiotic's right away. If she is drinking you can put it in her water. Do an examination of your hen, gently feeling her abdomen area. If you feel an egg, if her underside is very hot or if she exhibits any of the following symptoms.
Egg Bound Signs & Symptoms
What to do if your hen is egg bound (has an impacted egg)
The first thing you should do is take her to a veterinarian. If that is not possible then you may need to try to make her more comfortable and try to get her to expel the egg herself. Give her a calcium supplement (Calcivet works well) on top of her feed right away, this will help her muscles to contract and hopefully she will expel the egg. In severe cases you may need to find someone experienced at egg removal or worst case scenario-remove the egg yourself.
Egg Bound Signs & Symptoms
- Starts waddling or walking upright like a penguin
- Stops laying eggs
- Lays soft shelled eggs
- Pale comb and wattles
- Droopy comb and wattles
- Stops eating or drinking
- Skin is hot to the touch especially around the lower abdomen and vent area.
- Seems tired and sleeps alot
- Eyes are distant
- Redness in vent area
- Fever
- Abdomen is unusually warm
What to do if your hen is egg bound (has an impacted egg)
The first thing you should do is take her to a veterinarian. If that is not possible then you may need to try to make her more comfortable and try to get her to expel the egg herself. Give her a calcium supplement (Calcivet works well) on top of her feed right away, this will help her muscles to contract and hopefully she will expel the egg. In severe cases you may need to find someone experienced at egg removal or worst case scenario-remove the egg yourself.
References:
1. Egg-Bound or Impacted Oviducts in Poultry - Poultry - Veterinary Manual. (2018). Veterinary Manual. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/disorders-of-the-reproductive-system/egg-bound-or-impacted-oviducts-in-poultry
2. Category: Health. (2018). Adelaide Chicken Sitting Service. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.adelaidechickensittingservice.com/blog/category/health
3. How to Fix An Egg Bound Hen. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwwtQI_f49I&t=10s
4. What a eggbound chicken looks like. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY1CfCrgcDU
1. Egg-Bound or Impacted Oviducts in Poultry - Poultry - Veterinary Manual. (2018). Veterinary Manual. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/disorders-of-the-reproductive-system/egg-bound-or-impacted-oviducts-in-poultry
2. Category: Health. (2018). Adelaide Chicken Sitting Service. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.adelaidechickensittingservice.com/blog/category/health
3. How to Fix An Egg Bound Hen. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwwtQI_f49I&t=10s
4. What a eggbound chicken looks like. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 26 March 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY1CfCrgcDU