What To Do About An Egg Stuck In Chicken

An egg bound chicken is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Learn how to recognize signs of egg binding, what to do for your chicken, and when to seek veterinary assistance. With proper treatment and care, your chicken can be back to normal in no time!

What Does Egg Bound Mean?

Egg binding in chickens is where an egg becomes stuck in a hen's oviduct, preventing her from laying it. While rare, this condition can be life-threatening if not properly treated. 

Any chicken actively laying eggs can potentially become egg bound, but certain factors increase the risk. Older hens, overweight hens, and breeds known for their larger eggs (such as Brahmas or Orpingtons) may be more prone to developing this condition.

To further understand how a chicken can become egg bound, it helps to look at the egg-laying process:

1. Hens are born with all the eggs they will ever lay, which are stored inside follicles in their ovaries.
2. During ovulation, the ovary releases the egg yolk (known as chicken ova or ovum) into the oviduct. The oviduct consists of five sections: the Infundibulum, the Magnum, the Isthmus, the Uterus, and the Cloaca (Vent).
   1. The egg passes through the infundibulum (opening of the oviduct) to the magnum, where the egg white (albumen) is added to the egg.
   2. The egg travels through the magnum into the isthmus, where the shell membrane is formed.
   3. The egg then moves into the uterus, where the shell is created. This is where the majority of egg formation takes place.
   4. Finally, the egg reaches the cloaca and is laid by the hen through the vent.

It can take up to 26 hours for an egg to travel through the oviduct and be laid. If an egg becomes stuck, more eggs can form behind it, causing a larger blockage and worsening the condition.

But it isn't just the stuck egg that causes problems. The most common place for an egg to become stuck is between the uterus and cloaca. When a chicken is ready to lay an egg, her cloaca naturally closes the exit to the intestines to stop the egg from becoming contaminated with feces. This means the chicken cannot poop until the egg is laid. 

So not only will your chicken have a stuck egg, but she will also have a build-up of feces - both of which can be fatal.

Egg Bound Chicken Symptoms: How to Tell if a Chicken is Egg Bound

The symptoms of an egg bound hen can easily be mistaken for other health issues, so it's important to know what to look out for. Some common symptoms of egg binding include:

• Lethargy
• Decreased appetite or water intake
• Walking like a penguin (body upright)
• Straining or squatting frequently without producing an egg
• Distended or hardened abdomen
• Tail pumping (tail bobbing up and down)
• Cloaca/vent may be swollen and/or straining
• Abnormal droppings 
• An egg may be seen protruding from the cloaca

If you notice any of these symptoms in your chicken, it's important to act quickly. Egg binding is a life-threatening condition and can lead to serious complications if left untreated.

How To Help An Egg Bound Hen

Early intervention is vital when dealing with an egg bound chicken. If possible, consult with a veterinarian who has experience treating poultry. They can provide the necessary care and advice for your specific situation.

If you are unable to seek veterinary help immediately, there are some steps you can try at home to help your egg bound hen:

1. Check your hen is actually egg-bound: Gently feel the abdomen and vent area for a hard lump, which will be a stuck egg. Wear gloves and use a lubricant such as vegetable oil when checking the vent to avoid causing further injury.
2. Give your chicken a calcium boost: Calcium helps regulate the muscle contractions needed to push out the egg. Electrolyte solutions are the easiest option, as you can use a dropper to administer them directly into the chicken's mouth. Calcium supplements can also be added to her water or food if she is still eating and drinking. 
3. Provide a warm bath: Add 1 cup of Epsom salts to some warm water and gently place your chicken in the bath. This will help relax her muscles and potentially aid in passing the egg - I think it also alleviates some of the pain. Hold your chicken in the water, with the vent submerged, for about 20 minutes. Dry her off afterward and keep her in a warm, dry environment.
4. Give her some privacy: Sometimes, chickens need a quiet and calm environment to lay their eggs. If possible, place your chicken in a dark and quiet area for about an hour to see if she will pass the egg on her own.
5. Carefully massage the abdomen: You can try gently massaging the abdomen to help move the egg along. 

Repeat these steps if your hen is still egg bound after the initial treatment. However, the longer your chicken is egg bound, the more serious the situation becomes. 

If you haven't already, now would be the time to seek veterinary help. If you cannot get to a vet, you may need to carefully attempt to remove the egg yourself. This should only be done as a last resort and with extreme caution - it doesn't come without risk, as you may injure your chicken further. 

If you can see the egg protruding from the vent or cloaca, here's how you can try to remove it: 

1. Wear gloves, and gently lubricate the area with vegetable oil, petroleum jelly, or another lubricant.
2. Make a small hole in the eggshell and use a large syringe to suck out the contents of the egg.
3. Carefully pull the egg out, being mindful not to break it.
4. If the egg doesn't easily come out, gently break it using a gloved, lubricated finger. Gently is the keyword here - we want to carefully collapse the egg inwards to keep the shell membrane intact (this will minimize bits of eggshell from breaking off).
5. Remove as many pieces of the eggshell from your chicken's vent as possible. Any remaining pieces should naturally come out during their next bowel movement.
6. Check for prolapse or any other visible injuries to the vent area.
7. Keep your hen away from the rest of the flock until she shows signs of improvement. 

If the egg isn't visible but you can feel it, lubricate the vent area and very gently massage the abdomen in a downward motion until the egg is visible. Your hen might pass the egg on her own at this point, but if not, you may need to follow the above steps.

Please note this isn't a guaranteed solution and shouldn't be attempted in place of seeking proper veterinary care. 

Additionally, your hen may still require follow-up treatment even after the egg has been removed. A broken egg can cause internal damage and may require antibiotics.

How to Prevent Egg Binding in Chickens

I know dealing with egg binding can be quite stressful for you and your chicken. So, let's talk about how we can prevent this from happening in the first place. Egg binding can sometimes occur due to underlying health issues, but there are things you can do as a chicken owner to minimize the risk.

Provide a Balanced Diet

It's important to feed your chickens a balanced and nutrient-rich diet to ensure their overall health. A lack of calcium in their diet can make it harder for them to pass an egg. Provide a calcium supplement or include calcium-rich foods like crushed eggshells, oyster shells, and calcium grit in their diet.

Encourage Exercise

Chickens that aren't active or have limited space for movement may experience difficulties in laying eggs. Overweight chickens are also more likely to become egg bound. Encourage your chickens to be active by providing them with enough space to roam around and forage. 

Offer Proper Nesting Materials

Creating a comfortable and stress-free environment for your chickens can also help prevent egg binding. Make sure your nesting boxes are clean and have enough soft bedding material for the hen to lay her eggs. 

Keep Your Hens Hydrated

Dehydration can also contribute to egg binding. Always make sure your chickens have access to clean, fresh water. 

Don't Encourage Premature Laying

Artificial lighting can trigger pullets (young female chickens) to lay eggs before their bodies are ready. This can increase the risk of egg binding as their reproductive systems may not be fully developed yet. 

Avoid using artificial lighting, and instead, let your chickens follow their natural laying cycle.

Monitoring Further Egg Production

It's only natural to be concerned about your hen's health after she has experienced egg binding. 

Keep a close eye on her and look out for any additional symptoms or changes in her behavior. If she continues to experience difficulties when laying eggs, consult a veterinarian for further advice and treatment options. 

Egg Binding FAQs