[eggs on legs]

I have my 3rd egg bound chicken in 12 months....after a number of years of being problem free (different birds - not old).

They are on the same diet as previous years - not much changed at all. Is it just bad luck ?

Any suggestions on diet etc.

What is the best cure ?.....I am doing the steaming remedy, no results yet.

Of the previous chickens - the first stumble around for weeks, the last went in 2 days.

Any suggestions ??

[eggs on legs]

I am saying egg bound from a non expert point of view.

The chicken has a large swollen stomach, and lots of skin showing where there may be feathers. seems happy enough though. She sits on a nest rather than perch at night.

[joyfull]

What do you mean the steaming remedy?
Where is your hen swollen is it just below her neck area/ upper chest or is it lower down more between her leg area?

[Flowerpower136]

As another non-expert, I got Nell to lay by holding her in a sink full of warm water for an hour.  She relaxed and the egg just came.

Hope it goes OK.

[Aunt Sally]

The chicken has a large swollen stomach, and lots of skin showing where there may be feathers. seems happy enough though. She sits on a nest rather than perch at night.

That is not egg bound.  A swollen stomach (the part just below the vent) is caused by a collection of fluid in the body cavity.  There are a number of causes but it is nat a condition that the hen can live with for very long.

[eggs on legs]

Thanks Sally.

what would you say is the most common cause for the fluid in the cavity ?

She doesn't seem to be any worse....so far. But she is similar to my previous deceased birds.

[Aunt Sally]

There are lots of reasons EoL.

Egg peritonitis is a very common one.  Tumours is another; even levels of protein in the blood can cause it; pulmonary hypertension caused by heart problems, lung damage, liver damage, growing too fast - probably a lot more.

A vet would have to do x-rays and blood tests to make a diagnosis.