Chicken Song No Egg

[RoosterThigh]

Hi Everyone,

I have a Black Australorp that is going on 2 and lays an egg nearly everyday. I haven't gotten an egg from her in 3 days now and I've caught her sitting in the egg nest and then coming out of the coop doing the egg song but there is no egg. She isn't broody. She is acting completely normal other than that. She has a red comb, about a week ago it looked a little pale and so did her face, but she is all red again. Could she possibly be egg bound? I read all the symptoms for that but like I said she is being completely normal except for acting like she laid an egg.

 

[staceyj]

If she’s not laying and she’s not broody, molting or hiding them somewhere else and no one is chasing her out of the nest, I would definitely give her a calcium supplement (like tums or caltrate) this afternoon. She may be lacking in calcium and not able to complete the formation of/or pass an egg. then give her a good long soak (20-30 minutes) either in the sink or in a small bucket or wastebasket with bath temperature water and Epsom Salts.
You can feel for an egg (gently) with a lubricated finger inserted an inch or two in, and you can also feel/massage her lower tummy to see if there’s an egg near the exit.
Do these things then let us know if anything happened.

Here’s a pic of one of my hens getting soaked prior to her pedicure.

 

[ChickieChickieMama]

I'm curious to see what folks say. My 16.5 week old Golden Comet has now laid two eggs and today she sat in the nesting box for a bit then wiggled suggestively and hopped out, happily singing away.

I assumed it was just a new layer glitch but it didn't occur to me she could have a problem. Now I'm nervous!

 

[staceyj]

I'm curious to see what folks say. My 16.5 week old Golden Comet has now laid two eggs and today she sat in the nesting box for a bit then wiggled suggestively and hopped out, happily singing away.

I assumed it was just a new layer glitch but it didn't occur to me she could have a problem. Now I'm nervous!

Don’t!
Not at 16.5 weeks.

New layers take a while to get their schedules worked out.

 

[ChickieChickieMama]

Don’t!
Not at 16.5 weeks.

New layers take a while to get their schedules worked out.

Okay thank you for putting my mind at ease!!!!

 

[RoosterThigh]

If she’s not laying and she’s not broody, molting or hiding them somewhere else and no one is chasing her out of the nest, I would definitely give her a calcium supplement (like tums or caltrate) this afternoon. She may be lacking in calcium and not able to complete the formation of/or pass an egg. then give her a good long soak (20-30 minutes) either in the sink or in a small bucket or wastebasket with bath temperature water and Epsom Salts.
You can feel for an egg (gently) with a lubricated finger inserted an inch or two in, and you can also feel/massage her lower tummy to see if there’s an egg near the exit.
Do these things then let us know if anything happened.

Here’s a pic of one of my hens getting soaked prior to her pedicure.

View attachment 1477838

Thank you Staceyj. I did what you suggested. I didn't feel anything around her abdomen or vent but went ahead and done the suggested items you said. There was an egg in the nestbox this morning that looks like her egg. The egg was normal and is whole. I think she is OK but it is odd that she is a good normal layer and did that. She free ranges and eats layer pellet, has great muscle tone and is my friendliest hen that will come sit in my lap at times.
I have 9 laying hens atm and eggs are various colors that I've learned to tell them apart plus have weighed the eggs for some time and I'm pretty sure it was her egg in there. Thanks for the advice!

 

[staceyj]

Thank you Staceyj. I did what you suggested. I didn't feel anything around her abdomen or vent but went ahead and done the suggested items you said. There was an egg in the nestbox this morning that looks like her egg. The egg was normal and is whole. I think she is OK but it is odd that she is a good normal layer and did that. She free ranges and eats layer pellet, has great muscle tone and is my friendliest hen that will come sit in my lap at times.
I have 9 laying hens atm and eggs are various colors that I've learned to tell them apart plus have weighed the eggs for some time and I'm pretty sure it was her egg in there. Thanks for the advice!

Glad to hear!

Some times a girl just needs a day off.