Chicken egg bound

[mark22baker]

Hi my name is mark and I am new to this forum and new to keeping chickens I bought a light Sussex from a farm I was told she is about 2 years old I have had her for about 3 months now but I noticed a change 2day and I wondered if anyone could help me she hasn't layed since I have had her but I noticed today that she kept going into her nest a sitting for a bit then coming out but no egg also her vent seems to be panting and she is sitting more than standing is this normal? I have heard about egg bound I wasn't sure if these were the symptoms.

Thanks

Mark

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, Mark, and

! Great to have you here! There could be a couple of reasons she isn't laying. Most likely it is the short days we have in the winter. To be regular layers chickens need about 14 hours of light (natural and/or artificial). To put that into perspective, I have 18 hens and I collected 2 eggs today. Also, when chickens molt all of there energy goes to feather generation and egg laying gets put on hold. Another might be her age - could she be older than 2? They start slowing down with age. Not sure about egg bound but it does sound like she wants to lay. Hope she turns it on soon - good luck to you and Happy New Year!

 

[mark22baker]

Thank you and happy new year to you. I did bear that in mind about the daylight hours but lady who I bought them from said they may lay every now and then in winter but what concerns me is the panting by the vent constantly I was worried if she did have an egg stuck maybe there would be something I could do to help

Many thanks

Mark

 

[sourland]

She may indeed be getting ready to resume laying. Keep us informed as to what happens.

 

[The Howards]

Hi and welcome. Not sure if this applies or not but I had read onetime that stressful events, like relocating, or basically anything traumatic to a chicken can put them off laying for a while, I would think by 3 months she would have calmed down enough and adjusted. It sure sounds like she is wanting to lay though.Is she your only girl? Sometimes being around another one that is laying can help stimulate a reluctant one to lay. It sure worked for our Easter Egger, her coop mate stimulated her into laying about 3 weeks earlier than expected. Hope she lays for you soon. Good luck...

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Glad you joined.

 

[mark22baker]

Thanks for the advice. I have 2 other hens and I was told they would lay in February as they are still not fully grown they all seem pretty calm and they walk around freely during the day maybe she is just gettin prepared I just wondered if this was normal behaviour after not laying for a while

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!

Glad you joined us!!!

 

[liz9910]

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!