How to care for your egg bound hen

Our little Lilly became egg bound, here's some steps to take to help them release their egg. Affiliate links below click show more.
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[@phs2937]

I appreciate your trying to help us all learn. It’s terribly sad to lose an animal. You did what you could. I wish my Grandma was still alive to ask her-- old timers new so much and we’re all relearning some lost knowledge. Everyone sharing their experiences will help us all improve our abilities, so thank you again.

[@reilymom034]

Thank you for posting. I just lost my chicken this week to this. I did everything that you tried also. So heartbreaking. I was scrambling to find videos of others people who raised chickens and what they recommended. It’s nice not to feel so alone and helpless. It gave me comfort to know that I did the best that I could.

[@alastair1955]

You are very brave showing a failure, most people only show success, which can give the wrong impression

[@ambersandoval512]

Sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing 😢

[@KittehLiLMommi]

I’m so sorry to hear about Lilly

[@amberberry7867]

Thank you for the true raw video. I needed to know what happens and what could happen.

[@judygregg1592]

Thank you so much for walking us through the steps. I am facing this now with my Willow.

[@WinkTartanBelle]

I’ve never had luck saving eggbound hens myself. Seems like every time I manage to get the first bound egg out they soon have another one stuck. Especially the hens older than 2-3 years. The process of producing eggs is one very dependent on every part of the process working properly and properly timed. Just one thing out of whack and it all goes to heck. Don’t beat yourself up. These things happen with livestock. Honestly, anymore I humanely harvest all egg bound hens as soon as I find the problem. I personally can’t justify letting them suffer with such a slim chance of long term success. Not criticizing, just explaining why I do what I do. I hope you don’t have more of these things happening. You did your best and learned from the situation. 👍

[@traceyprinz2834]

Thank you for this. It's good to see that even doing all you can sometimes the outcome is what it is.

[@kemberlymcilrath268]

So sorry you lost your Lillie, it's truly tough losing them.

[@racheledwards6497]

It's always our favorite ones that we get attached to. I just lost my favorite Brahma

[@Rosela-rose]

I am very sorry for this loss 😥. You are a compassionate and merciful person. You have made all your efforts, but unfortunately what happened. I wish you all success and that nothing bad happens to you🙏Ameen🙏.

[@DeraHabte]

I'm sorry for ur losses but thank u so match for sharing this experience

[@centraltexashomestead-mike4956]

Sorry to hear that Pete. God Bless Mike & Rochelle

[@jeremymwilliams]

You "helped" an egg-bound chicken? I'm sorry for your loss but what a seriously misleading title.

[@crystalcofield9890]

Sorry for your loss Pete.

[@Katzz223]

Oh that was so sad. You did your best to help her.

[@sheilal3172]

So sorry about Lilly. Our animals become precious to us. I'm dealing with the same problem right now. My 16 Black-laced Silver Wyandottes are just beginning to lay A friend told me I've fed them too much, and they are too large. Out of 50-ish smallish eggs so far, two are huge. This hen squats, spreads her wings a bit and then moves around again. i soaked her for about an hour and then added some Epsom salts for about 15 minutes. I cleaned her vent, which was messy. I've massaged her belly, but I can't feel an egg. She's active enough, it seems. I crushed some calcium tablet and put into her water. I'm going to keep her inside overnight and see what the situation is in the morning. I'll also use a syringe to deliver some calcium and magnesium. I hope this is not a Wyandotte trait. Wish me luck.

[@MrRbrgrn]

Thanks Pete I have a Rhode Island red that’s been Brudy but now I’m gonna go out and take a better look 🤞🏻

[@adamsfamilygarden5222]

I’m So Sorry for Your Loss 😢

[@MynewTennesseeHome]

It's always tough to loose an animal. I've never experienced an egg bound chicken...yet. The calcium and magnesium is good. If I ever have one I think I'll do the supplements, warm epson soak and vaseline at the first sign. I also wonder if gently massaging the abdomen might help?

[@HopeAndPeace2024]

You did your best 🐔♥️

[@ScaryFear]

I'm sorry for your loss. I know what this is like. I've never lost a chicken to egg binding but I've lost my share of pet birds, but also saved some. Everything you did was fine. If it happens again try to fix up a hot box. Being wet after her bath doesn't help she needs to be dry to stay warm. Then keep her at 90 - 100 degrees if possible. I have a video where I saved my budgie doing this. I used the heat light from a reptile light on her brooder. Sadly a few years later she got cancer and didn't live a full life span. Here's the short video kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZexaKOkgcqNd7s

[@janonthemtn]

My hens have calcium available, plus whatever they need. So now I've had 2 French Black Copper Marans get eggbound. One right now, going to the vet in the AM if nothing improves. Did all as recommended. She's eating all her favorite foods. She's in my walk in shower for the night. other CM did not fare well about 8 months ago, she died.

[@cliffmolz8719]

Hello Pete, it's tough when you lose one of your animals; even if it's a chicken. I only have nine hens currently, but have had to dispatch one fairly recently because it was suffering as she could no longer stand, eat and had lost considerable weight. From everything I've seen/read, once they become egg bound there is not a whole lot you can do as the eggs just keep backing up in their system. However, I'm going to try this method to see if it works. I know your chicken didn't make it, but I'm taking it that you know of circumstances where they did using this method? Keep up the videos and again, sorry for your loss.

[@simonsays6557]

Try removing the egg next time. poke a hole in it so that you can extract the contents with a syringe. Once the contents are out, you should pull the shell out. Do this gently, again, so that you don’t break the egg inside. If it happens to break, make sure you have extracted all of the pieces to prevent infection

[@michelep4340]

A broken shell will cut the tissues inside the vent. I have been raising chickens for many years and have never never never heard of this being recommended, but I have heard it’s a bad idea to break the shell inside the chicken.

[@deanwa8581]

My Black Australorp died this morning from being egg bound. I have tried the magnesium baths. I have had 6 or more that were egg bound and I was never able to save them.

[@marilynwogahn5428]

thank you

[@pinkxkitty1776]

I don’t know if my chicken is egg bounding . My chicken eats and drink water and run but her ear is white and her butt opens and closes and I haven’t seen her poop . She is a reds

[@WeepingWillow422]

Always a treat when I see you've uploaded a video. Especially when it's about your chickens or garden (or would that be more considered a farm?). I'm sorry, though, about Lilly. Bravo for taking care of her as well as you did. Animals are smarter than many people give them credit for so I'm sure she was intelligent enough to feel the love you guys were giving her in her last days. I see your rooster is doing good, he's very opinionated lol.

[@cookingsherry8784]

OK, if the chicken died, this is not a good video on what to do if they become egg bound. You need to put a sad meter warning on this! I did not need to see this Tonight!

[@LWYOffGridHomestead]

I'm sad to hear about Lilly...condolences to you 2 😭

[@pamelaremme38]

Are you sure it wasn't sour crop?

[@rosenewton2696]

it's sad rest in peace Lilly

[@michelep1130]

What breeds tend to experience this more?

[@SueBHoney-cq8co]

Road Island Reds.

[@mongo0se338]

Sussex too

[@TroyArmstrong]

sorry to hear/see that , it hurts when you lose an animal on the farm is there something like plunger/ suction to get the egg out ?? what about if you break it and let it ooze out ??

[@GratefulHeartsRanch]

Sorry to hear Pete. I take it it's a bad thing to break the egg in this case? I have no experience with chickens yet.

[@fancythat5136]

I have heard Rhode Island reds have this problem more because they lay such large eggs. I just lost a 4 yr old to this after trying everything I’ve learned to do. I would stay away from the Reds from now on. Although I’ve heard it could be a calcium deficiency.

[@craigbolton5949]

When my parrot was struggling to lay an egg and boy was she struggling at the bottom of the cage I took my hand and massage her vent it took maybe less than 10 minutes and she shot that thing out like a cannonball just a suggestion that you might try next time or anybody else that saw this video

[@rosewood5017]

Couldn't you lubricate your finger and try to go in and edge the egg out?

[@danielong911]

Sorry you lost your hen.

[@susanyoung3343]

I do not know anything about chickens, but couldn’t you break the egg gently and get it out

[@2007KB]

Awe poor little Lily. Sorry u guys. How long do hens live?

[@CassieDavis613]

5 - 10 years

[@2007KB]

@@CassieDavis613 oh wow ok thx

[@kathymcgill4306]

So sorry you lost Lillie

[@MrOgre-zh9kb]

Just lost one of my Reds to this also. Never even saw her declining, just found her dead in the nesting box.

[@ahmerrizvi]

I remember you putting her in seperate chicken tractor to protect her. Really sad to see her go.

[@davidrhodes1477]

poor baby bless her ..ive heard petroleum jelly in the vent is supposed to be better

[@ColRubyDimplesManacha]

I'm sorry about Lilly

[@Rose-wx2ct]

am heartbroken coz i was listening advice to put my pet chicken in warm water with magnesium but i didnt know she is not just egg bound she had an infection that was causing her to be egg bound...I wish i knew this before i put her in warm water twice,after second time she started to shake for maby 20 mins...i run to a vet but shw died after i got there...now i am blaming myself for her death ...Never ever put her in warm water or use drier if you heavent check if she have high temperature already...i can not tell you how sad i am...dont do this mistake

[@laurah200]

Don’t be hard on Yourself, you tried everything to make her better. She is in chicken heaven happy you have her a great life.

[@jkgkjgkijk]

I'm guessing a vet could have done surgery?

[@kam7051]

How's Toby and Mia Doing

[@petebeasttexashomesteading]

Thanks, they're doing great, They keep bugging me to be in the next video 🙂

[@juliebarnett9812]

Awe. 😭😭😭

[@nomogopnomogop2875]

Chicken and scrambled eggs.

[@caronshanahan7315]

Why did you show us a chicken that died? This is horrible.

[@cathyhumphries5870]

Gray Man. Grow a ❤️ ! What would you have done?

[@Preciousmiller1]

Can she seen a farm Animals Vet

[@terrywereb7639]

It would cost 200 bucks just to park the vehicle!

[@cheryldahl9192]

I have a hen in this situation too. :(

[@the_things_that_dont_mat]

RIP 😇

[@julieking4304]

warning.....she died

[@occamsrazor7939]

Poor baby.😢 A vet may have gotten that egg out. That must have been a painful way to die.

[@ThemediocreZai]

I got here cause I got an egg bound chicken and she has all the same symptoms 😢

[@HomesteadAlabama]

I have one now😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@grayman2972]

Why did you put this video up? It’s chalked full of bad advice….should rename it to “what not to do….” I know that may sound mean but my concern is all the chickens that will suffer because somebody watched your video and followed your advice…..

[@tinahoward5931]

I thought this would help me figure out what to do with an egg bound hen. THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANTED OR NEEDED TO SEE!!!!!!!! HORRIBLE VIDEO, YOU NEED TO WARN US BEFORE WE WATCH THE VIDEO!!!

[@CharlieClemett]

Very sad

[@juliebarnett9812]

Not such a good Mother's Day for Lilly.

[@neuroradguy]

Sorry

[@lovenotes5299]

So Sad

[@terrywereb7639]

Add the oil from both ends! Makes no sense to use a lubricant unless the whole area gets slicked up. People who have rock- swallowing dogs learn to pour mineral oil down their throats, as surgery to clear the backup is thousands of dollars!

[@niluferwajeeh4352]

Homeopathic medicine can help this problem .

[@grayman2972]

Seriously awful