Yesterday I caught a hen Pytilia that didn't look too good, around her vent was very swollen so I put her into the hospital cage and cranked up the temperature.
Around lunch time today she passed an egg, obviously egg bound. Now I need advice on how long should I hold her in the hospital cage knowing there are
probably more eggs on the way.Is it a good idea to give her a couple of drops olive or cod liver oil?
Thought I read somewhere that the 'Give 'em oil' theory worked on the false assumption that oil applied at one end, lubricated the other 'end' and as such was not harmful, but of little, if any benefit
Warmth and extra calcium is supposedly the way to go . .
In general, if a hen becomes eggbound and then passes the egg by herself, it is seldom necessary to continue the heat beyond another 24 hrs or so. Most hens appear immediately better once the egg has passed.
However, they are very vulnerable when the next egg comes along.
I therefore separate these hens for several weeks. The stress of being egg bound may stop her laying any more eggs in the immediate short term, which is probably a good thing.
There is a reason she became egg bound in the first place. So review your management and feeding, make extra calcium sources available and if she appears to ignore these than either directly dose her to the beak with a liquid calcium supplement or sprinkle her soft food with a calcium and mineral supplement.
Adding essential fatty acids such as The Good Oil (passwell) or equivalent may also help.
I prefer to rest these hens for at least a few weeks, rather than risk them dying by trying to lay agian too soon. Others place the hens immediately back with the cocks and have no problems. It really depends on the hen's nutrient reserves, and how much the original egg binding episode takes out of them.
