19 week old pullet straining

[CrystalsChickens]

Hello, I have 9 pullets and 2 cockerels. All are 19 weeks old today. No eggs from anyone yet. However, I noticed today that one of my leghorns acts as if she is trying to lay an egg. But nothing is coming out. Her bottom is clean and her abdomen feels the same as my other chickens. She is eating and drinking like normal and is not lethargic. I would not have noticed except when I let them out of the run to free range for a bit I noticed she walked straight over to a low tree branch and appeared to just sit down. Thinking it was cute I followed her and noticed that she was straining. After about 5 minutes she got back up and ran to be with the rest of the flock, eating grass and being normal. However, I could still see her straining despite this. It has been an hour and she has flown up onto my lap to cuddle. As normal. Yet still straining. The last few days she has occasionally started making what I can only describe as a screaming noise (which makes me laugh) but not sure it’s related. When she “screams” her entire neck feathers extend making her appear like a dinosaur from Jurassic park. Haha. Should I be concerned about this straining?

 

[lilmillefleur]

Do you have any calcium citrate tablet you could give her? Or tums?

 

[JustBabyMargo]

Pictures? She maybe constipated.

 

[CrystalsChickens]

I have tums. I made a list last week of first aid supplies but haven’t got any of it yet. Could she be “practicing” egg laying? She seems happy except for the straining.

 

[JustBabyMargo]

@azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[aart]

Chances are she's working on a softie.

 

[CrystalsChickens]

I have tums. I made a list last week of first aid supplies but haven’t got any of it yet.

Could she be “practicing” egg laying? She seems happy except for the straining.

Ok, out of abundance of caution I just let her bottom soak for 10 min in warm epsom salt water, and gave her about 500 mg of tums from a syringe. I hope I didn’t make it worse. I did insert my lubed finger about an inch inside and felt nothing. I have her in her own “sick bay” for the night. Please tell me I did not overdose her. She is such a good girl. Still straining but doesn’t appear to be in distress. I am new at this and am very attached to all my girls!

 

[azygous]

You did not overdose her. Be patient. Tha calcium should work, and by morning, a stuck egg will unceremoniously appear, usually as a splat on the poop board under the perch.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I probably wouldn't have separated her, but since you did that's fine.

Hopefully she's laid an egg by morning.

She's a Leghorn?

 

[CrystalsChickens]

I probably wouldn't have separated her, but since you did that's fine.

Hopefully she's laid an egg by morning.

She's a Leghorn?

Well she looks like it. Although none that I bought were listed as leghorns. Haha. Pretty sure Atwood’s (where I got her) had all the bins mixed up. I don’t truly know what any of my breeds are. I am keeping her inside and isolated tonight. Still attempting to push something out. No poop for a few hours so maybe it’s constipation. I probably give them too many Veges and fruit as treats but I try to not give them until after 5 pm thinking that way I am not ruining their meal. During the day they get layer pellets, grit and oyster shell.