Broody, sick, or stuck egg?

[mendozer]

I've got a hen who's been in the nesting box all day. My girls are all early layers and my initial thought was she's broody. She's laying quite flat, and she's missing some feathers on her abdomen. However, I was able to feed her some worms and I picked her up to move her. I gathered the 8 eggs underneath her and she just sat where I placed her, didn't move or fight me.

I checked her vent and it was pumping (which I assume means she's trying to lay?) and there was no blood or yolk coming out. It's the first time I have to deal with this. In 4 flocks I've only had once internal layer problem, nothing else.

What's going on? It's also in the 90s so I don't want her sitting in there all day not drinking.

 

[Top Rooster]

Did she puff up ever? Broody hens pluck their abdomin feathers so their skin can touch the eggs making them warmer, so she sounds like she's broody. The pumping vent is just moving because that's just what they do when their exposed all hens do that.

 

[lovechickens23]

Hi nees help please I got an easter egg layer hen she is kind old. She has a swollen butt under her vent. I had buff coatchens with same promblem few years ago and a vet did an autopsy they said its fat I dont belive it cause I dont feed them allot ans my friends feeds hers 24 seven. None of hers are fat. I can send a pic of her if u want. I dont want to.answer allot of qutions I just need a answer to help her and what to do to help her?? Or what I should feed her to help her I had chickens my hole life never had this before. I had a hen who was 10 years old died old age. She didnt have this pleasw help a chicken exspert thank u

 

[mendozer]

Ok she finally came out! I went in there and there were 3 eggs left, which from memory was the amount of eggs in there when I left. MAYBE it was 2 idk.

Maybe I broke the broody behavior that fast? She was eating and drinking outside. Her tail puffed a bit when I first grabbed her.

 

[Top Rooster]

Or maybe she is going in the pre broody stage.

 

[mendozer]

uh oh. I'll just keep an eye on her. Remove those eggs daily too

 

[rebrascora]

@lovechickens23

I dont want to.answer allot of qutions I just need a answer to help her and what to do to help her??

Unfortunately without more information we can't really tell you what is wrong or what you might do to help her. Asking questions is the only way I can think of to get that information....

For instance, if she is also fat like your cochins, there may be nothing that you can do except correct the diet and hope it is not too late..... excessive fat deposits in the body can cause a number of problems. Knowing what (not necessarily how much) you are feeding them may help..... having a commercial feed available 24/7 is far better than a scoop of mixed corn (scratch) twice a day or bread and table scraps.

Knowing when she last laid an egg would indicate if she may be internally laying or perhaps egg bound. Obesity can lead to internal laying, so again diet is important to know about.

Knowing if she has been wormed recently and what with, would potentially rule out a worm overload....

Sorry, but without answers to questions it is impossible to give appropriate advice.

Regards

Barbara

PS. Yes a photo might help..... the more information the better.

 

[mendozer]

Not fat, in fact probably one of the thinner ones. They all eat high quality commerical feed on an on-demand basis. They have a trigger feeder so there isn't food just laying around.

They were wormed 2 months ago.

I count almost 3-4 eggs daily from 4 hens so I'm sure she's laying. Also based on color variety too.

 

[aart]

I checked her vent and it was pumping (which I assume means she's trying to lay?)

Not necessarily...their vent can pulse just when they are breathing
and can 'clench' when being handled or examined.
Some of my girls like to lounge in the nests, before, after, or even if they are not laying right then. Just keep an eye on her.

 

[rebrascora]

@mendozer

My post was directed towards lovechickens23. Apologies for the confusion. Always a problem when someone else tags their problem onto an existing thread instead of starting their own.

My gut feeling is that your girl is broody.