How Do You Know If Your Chicken is Egg Bound?

Egg binding is a very bad disease that can happen to laying hens. For backyard chicken keepers, egg binding is when an egg gets stuck in a hen’s reproductive tract and she can’t get it out. If this happens, the hen could die, so it’s important to know the symptoms, causes, and ways to treat it right away. We will talk about everything you need to know to spot and help a hen that is stuck in an egg.

What is Egg Binding?

When a hen’s oviduct or cloaca gets blocked with an egg, she can’t lay it. This usually happens when the egg is almost finished and ready to be laid. The egg can get stuck before or during the contractions that are needed to push the egg out.

When a hen is egg bound, the stuck egg blocks off the rectum which prevents the hen from passing droppings. This blockage is why egg binding must be treated quickly, as it can become fatal within 24-48 hours if the hen can’t pass feces.

Egg binding can happen to any laying hen, but it happens most often in pullets that start laying eggs too soon, older hens, breeds that lay a lot of eggs, birds that tend to lay eggs that are too big, or hens that are overweight, undernourished, or calcium deficient.

Symptoms of Egg Binding

There are several clear signs that point to a hen being egg bound. The most obvious symptom is feeling or seeing a hard egg shell protruding from the vent. However, in some cases the egg may be stuck further inside where it can’t be seen or felt externally.

Here are the most common symptoms of an egg bound hen:

• Distended abdomen that feels hard
• Visible egg shell near vent
• Straining with little to no results
• Sitting fluffed up frequently
• Loss of appetite
• Increased vocalizations
• Frequent trips to nesting box
• Lack of egg laying
• Lack of feces or diarrhea
• Walking with difficulty as if constipated
• Pasting on feathers near vent
• Pale vent and comb

In the event that a hen is in pain, straining, and not laying eggs, check her vent area for a stuck egg. To find a hard egg shell inside the vent, use a gloved finger that has been greased. If a chicken egg is felt, it should be treated right away for egg binding.

Causes of Egg Binding

There are several potential causes of a hen becoming egg bound:

• Large egg size – Oversized or double yolk eggs can get stuck, especially in younger hens.

• Odd egg shape – Misshapen eggs don’t pass through as easily.

• Weak muscle tone – Overweight hens or lack of exercise can lead to weak contractions.

• Older hens – Advanced age leads to reduced muscle tone and egg size.

• Calcium deficiency – Lack of calcium weakens muscles and egg shells.

• Dehydration – Important for proper muscle function and contractions.

• Cold temperatures – Can stiffen the muscles needed to lay an egg.

• Disease – Illnesses that cause swelling or malnutrition inhibit egg laying.

• Genetics – Some breeds are prone to reproductive issues.

• Early egg laying – Pullets that start too young often have egg issues.

• Egg retention – When a hen holds an egg in too long due to stress.

• Sudden diet change – Can affect muscle function and egg formation.

Treating an Egg Bound Hen

If you confirm one of your hens is egg bound, prompt treatment is necessary. Here are the steps to help an egg bound chicken pass the stuck egg:

• Separate hen – Move her to a warm, quiet, and darkened nesting area. This reduces stress.

• Hydration – Make sure she has access to water with electrolytes. Dehydration makes passing an egg difficult.

• Nutrition – Offer layer feed and calcium supplements like oyster shell. Calcium supports muscle function.

• Warm bath – Soak vent area in warm water and Epsom salts for 15 mins to relax muscles.

• Lubricate vent – Use petroleum jelly to lubricate vent area to ease egg passing.

• Massage abdomen – Gently massage abdomen to encourage contractions to expel egg.

• Medical assistance – If the egg doesn’t pass, seek help from an avian vet.

• Manual extraction – As a last resort, carefully remove stuck egg under vet supervision.

Most egg bound hens will pass the stuck egg within 2-3 warm bath sessions coupled with lubrication, calcium supplements, and massage. Make sure to monitor her closely even after egg passing to ensure she returns to normal health and egg laying.

Preventing Egg Binding

While egg binding can happen randomly, there are some steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of it occurring:

• Feed a complete layer feed to ensure proper nutrition.

• Provide a calcium supplement like oyster shell at all times.

• Encourage exercise if you have overweight hens.

• Don’t overuse artificial lighting to speed up egg production.

• Select breeds that are less prone to laying very large eggs.

• Ensure nesting boxes are dark and offer 1 box per 4-5 hens.

• Avoid introducing dietary changes during peak laying seasons.

• Routinely check for illness and treat any issues promptly.

• Don’t force hens to lay too early by improper lighting.

• Monitor for odd sized or shaped eggs that could cause issues.

Proper feeding, lighting, housing setup, and breed selection will go a long ways towards preventing problematic egg laying issues like binding. But even with great care, an occasional egg binding case is hard to avoid completely.

Outlook for Egg Bound Chickens

The outlook for an egg bound hen often depends on how quickly treatment is started. Hens that are treated promptly at the first symptoms of a stuck egg have the best chance of survival and full recovery.

With warm bathing, lubrication, calcium, and massage some hens can pass an egg on their own within a few hours. However, if an egg has been stuck for over 24 hours, the outlook declines rapidly. At that point, manual extraction by a vet may be needed, which still poses risks.

Once an egg bound hen has been treated and has passed the stuck egg, she should be monitored closely. It may take a few days to weeks for her to get back to normal laying. Going forward, she is at higher risk of becoming egg bound again in the future unfortunately.

FAQs About Egg Binding

How long do you have to treat an egg bound chicken?

Ideally an egg should pass within 12-24 hours of at-home treatment. If not passed by 24 hours, vet assistance is recommended.

Can an egg bound chicken survive?

Yes, if treated promptly many hens can survive egg binding and return to laying normally. Quick action is key though.

Do egg bound chickens need antibiotics?

Usually not unless there is injury during stuck egg removal. Keep the vent clean until she passes the egg.

Can you save an egg bound chicken?

Yes, an egg bound hen can often be saved if treated very quickly using warm baths, lubrication, massage, and calcium. Manual extraction can also save them.

How do you tell if a chicken is bound up?

Signs like lack of eggs, straining, poor appetite, distended abdomen, and difficulty moving indicate a hen may be bound up with an egg. Check her vent for a stuck egg.

Conclusion

Egg binding is a potentially fatal condition for backyard chickens if not addressed swiftly. Knowing the signs of an egg bound hen and how to properly treat it can help chicken keepers deal with this problem successfully. Prompt veterinary care may be needed for severe cases where a hen can’t pass the egg on her own. With proper diet, housing, breed selection, and health management you can reduce, but not fully eliminate, egg binding issues in your flock.