Broody hen or something else wrong?

[5crazies]

Our 8 month old barred rock hasn’t laid an egg in 3-4 days.
She started laying about 3 months ago and has consistently laid an egg every day but has never laid her eggs in the nesting box. She lays them at the top of the ramp inside the coop. There is no type of bedding or anything there, just the bare coop floor.
For the last few days I’ve noticed that she pretty much stays put at the top of the ramp where she normally lays. Her feathers are all puffed up and she constantly looks like she is trying to push an egg out.
Today I started to worry that she may be egg bound so I checked her vent but felt nothing there.
She is not acting aggressive and didn’t mind me petting her or picking her up to check her, as I’ve read broody may do. She is also not acting sick and looks healthy except her comb has kind of flopped over yet it is still red.
I haven’t had any experience with a broody hen so I’m not sure if her behavior is more indicative of a broody hen or if she may be sick.
Any ideas?
Thank you!


ETA: There are no eggs under her and there haven’t been for the last 3-4 days since her last egg (which I collected) since our other hens all lay their eggs in the nesting box.

 

[azygous]

You are right to be concerned it could be something other than broody hormones. She could be egg bound. Here's how you can tell.

If she's broody, she will flatten herself like a pancake. She may puff up her feathers when touched, and growl and cluck very fast.

If she's egg bound and not broody, she will be more upright in her posture, going from sitting to standing periodically as she strains to pass the stubborn egg. She will make no sound when touched.

There is a third possibility. She may be reacting to shorter days, and is going into a lull from laying, but she may be going through the motions because she enjoys the solitude or whatever floats her boat.

If you suspect it's a stubborn egg, it would help her to give her some calcium. I use calcium citrate as it's easier to absorb than oyster shell calcium (calcium carbonate). You might let her rest on a warm heating pad or in a warm tub of water to relax her muscles.

Just last night I had a two year old hen in the nest at 6 pm after being there for several hours. She was standing up for the last hour of her ordeal. I happened to be checking on her, getting ready to run her a warm soak, when an intact yolk and white came rushing out of her butt, followed by a collapsed soft shell. Today I gave her the calcium to try to head off any repeat of this problem.

I hope your girl is broody. Egg laying issues can be very serious. Keep us posted.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

x2 @azygous

Palpitate her abdomen...does it feel extended at all? Can you feel an egg inside?

Usually a brooding hen will puff and growl. They definitely won't be straining to lay an egg. If a timid hen, they simply sit quietly puffed and flat.

The witnessing some straining is the part that concerns me....the straining you witnessed and then lethargy at the nest could be a sign of being egg bound or egg tract issues.

Examine her. If she looks okay (no extended abdomen, no discharge from the vent), then watch and wait.

If you are inclined, a warm soak might not hurt.

LofMc

 

[5crazies]

Thank you both! I will feel her abdomen tomorrow morning. When I checked her vent, I had my finger in about 2 inches and didn’t feel anything. I just went straight in but didn’t feel around, as that is what I read to do.
I went to check on her at about 10 pm and she was still in her spot. She usually roosts with everyone else. I snuck a pic. She was also making almost chirping sounds. They didn’t sound pained or distressed, just almost a cooing chirp.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Chirping is a brooding sound, which is a good sign.

Keep us posted

 

[azygous]

I call it the "broody cluck". Only broodies make that sound. Pick her up and take a look at her breast. If she's missing feathers all along her keel bone, you have your confirmation.

You might consider "breaking" her and interrupting the broody hormones or else she'll paste herself to that spot for the next three weeks.

 

[aart]

I call it the "broody cluck". Only broodies make that sound. Pick her up and take a look at her breast. If she's missing feathers all along her keel bone, you have your confirmation.

You might consider "breaking" her and interrupting the broody hormones or else she'll paste herself to that spot for the next three weeks.

...if not longer.

 

[5crazies]

Okay I’m pretty sure she’s just broody. She is missing feathers on her abdomen and chest area. When I went to check, she puffed up and sort of growled at me but didn’t peck or anything. The chirpy noise she is making almost sounds like a dove.

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

have you tried putting an egg in front of her and seeing what she does. IF she reaches for the egg and tucks it under her that would be the THIRD sign she is broody.

Personally it sounds and reads to me a like a broody.

 

[lazy gardener]

have you tried putting an egg in front of her and seeing what she does. IF she reaches for the egg and tucks it under her that would be the THIRD sign she is broody.

Personally it sounds and reads to me a like a broody.

Almost all of my girls will do that with an egg if they are on the nest, and they are not broody. To OP: If she is staying glued to that spot overnight, it's now decision time: break her, or give her some fertile eggs in a safe place to hatch. The longer you let her continue with her broodiness, the more her physical condition will deteriorate, and the stronger her broody hormones will get.