Accepted Answer

Thank you for getting back to me. I do suspect that your hen is egg bound. While constipation is possible, it is very uncommon in chickens, while egg binding occurs frequently. The best thing to do is take her to a vet. Here is a link to a list of avian vets by state. You may have to drive a bit to get to one.

http://www.aav.org/vet-lookup/

If you absolutely can't get to a vet right away, there are a few things you can try, but success is iffy. If the egg is just inside the vent, you can put a little cooking oil or mineral oil in the vent. This won't do any good if the egg is further up. Do not try to break the egg or pull it out - this can do even more harm.

Give her some water with a little sugar, Karo syrup, or honey in it to keep up her energy.

You can run a hot shower in your bathroom until the room is warm and humid (85 to 90 degrees). Gently (so as not to accidentally break the egg) put her in a small box or cage and take her to the warm room. Watch her closely to make sure she doesn't overheat. Sometimes the warmth and humidity may help her pass the egg. If none of these steps work, the hen is likely to die without veterinary intervention. If you have more questions, just let me know by clicking on REPLY. I hope you'll be able to get your hen to pass the egg.

Anna

Expert:	MsAM
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:
Answered:	10/25/2008

Bird Expert

Have owned and/or raised parakeets, finches, cockatiels, and poultry over a period of thirty years.