egg binding
Alektorophobia keeps egg binding in one place: 3 stories so far. The section currently leads with “When your egg-cellent layer has a fowl day: prolapsed vent advice”, “When Your Hen's Egg Is Stuck and She's Giving You the Cold Cluck”, and “My chick hatched late and now has one funky foot: help”. Oh, the drama of the egg life. Four hours of fluid oozing from her vent, no appetite, and a walk slower than molasses in January, that's not a hen giving you the cold cluck, that's a hen screaming for help in the only language she has. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every egg binding story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
When your egg-cellent layer has a fowl day: prolapsed vent advice
Oh, the drama of the egg life. This poor Easter Egger is having a very un-egg-citing day, and I feel for both of you. Finding your reliable layer in distress with what looks like a combo of egg binding and a prolapsed vent is enough to make anyone's feathers ruffle. You're doing the right thing by soaking her and monitoring, good instincts there. The fact that she's still moving around and has her energy is a hopeful sign, but that severe of a prolapse is no joke. It's smart to wonder about internal tears; that's the scary part we all dread.
When Your Hen's Egg Is Stuck and She's Giving You the Cold Cluck
Four hours of fluid oozing from her vent, no appetite, and a walk slower than molasses in January, that's not a hen giving you the cold cluck, that's a hen screaming for help in the only language she has. I'm not a vet, but I'd bet my last feed scoop this is egg yolk peritonitis or a broken egg stuck sideways, and neither one waits politely for morning office hours. You did the right thing with the warm bath, even if she hated every second of it. But when a bird won't eat or drink, her system is already in trouble. Emergency vet tonight beats a sadder ending tomorrow.
My chick hatched late and now has one funky foot: help
Oh, you poor thing, watching your chick hatch with a funky foot is the kind of heartbreak that makes you want to cluck in frustration. But here's the good news: if this little one is already eating and drinking like a champ at three days old, you've got a fighter on your hands. That stuck-in-the-egg situation can definitely cause deformities, but many chicks adapt surprisingly well. I'd start by keeping the bedding soft and non-slip, paper towels are great for now, and monitoring for any signs of pain or mobility trouble. You might also want to check out our piece on swollen ankles in hens, "My Ladies Have Swollen Ankles and I'm Totally Chickening Out," for extra foot-care wisdom.