Chicken Health | EGG BOUND

Is My Hen Egg Bound?

Hens become egg bound when the egg gets stuck between her uterus and cloaca (tube by which faeces and reproductive fluids - including eggs - are expelled from the body).
The hen will strain to pass the egg but will not be able to. Egg binding in chickens can be fatal if not spotted and treated.

Symptoms

• Repeated straining with no resulting egg 
  
• Hen will be in and out of the nest box without laying an egg 
• Walking like a penguin - her bottom will be close to the floor 
  
• Droopy
  
• Not eating or drinking 
• Hard abdomen
  

If you notice any of these symptoms, then you will need to carry out a check to see if she is egg bound.
You can first feel her abdomen area for an egg like lump. If you can feel an egg then it is likely she is egg bound.

Causes

• Obesity
  
• An excessively large or misshapen egg
• An oviduct infection
• Calcium or other nutritional deficiency
• Premature layer (hens starts to lay before her body is fully developed)
• Hens holds onto egg for too long due to lack of laying facilities

Prevention

• Feed out a nutritional balanced complete layer feed to laying hens
• Make shell grit readily available
• Don't use lighting in your hen house when your pullets are pre-lay
  
• Avoid feeding your hens too many treats or nutritionally poor snacks

Treatment

The recommended treatment for an egg bound hen is a warm bath. This will loosen the muscles and hopefully help the hen to pass the egg. If you have given a warm bath and your hen still hasn’t passed the egg it is best to take her to the vet. KY jelly may also help. Apply to the vent can help lubricate the cloaca to allow the passage to slowly release the egg. Please do not hold an egg bound hen over steam: this is an old “remedy” that does not work and is agony for the hen.