Chicken still in nest box

[citychicks99]

When I went to close up my coop last night at 5:30pm I saw one of my hens sitting in the nest box. I thought it was odd as I've never seen that behavior before but I didn't want to bother her so I left her alone. It's now 11am the next day and she's still in there. I've had her since August and she's never been broody. There's also not enough eggs in there anyway. I think she hadn't been laying in a while since it's winter so I'm not sure if she's struggling. I do leave out egg shells, grit, feed and water for them. Should I be worried?

 

[triciayoung]

When you go near her or try to pet her, does she get loud or growl? When you pick her up out of the coop and put her on the ground does she do the "pancake"? If so, she is broody. I have one that I am dealing with right now and there is not even an egg.

 

[ExoticPetOwner]

It sounds like she is started to be broody. They won't lay many or any eggs at all when they're broody. They can become aggressive, so make sure not to do sudden, fast moves or bother her too much. This kind of behavior can last a few days to a few weeks, maybe even up to a month or so. Make sure she is drinking and eating enough feed with a higher amount of protein and calcium because broody hens ten to not get up as much to care for themselves. The extra protein ( If you have layer pellets or crumbles you should be fine with the protein and calcium. ) helps with energy, growth, and a production of more eggs.

 

[Silkie2299781]

It sounds like she is started to be broody. They won't lay many or any eggs at all when they're broody. They can become aggressive, so make sure not to do sudden, fast moves or bother her too much. This kind of behavior can last a few days to a few weeks, maybe even up to a month or so. Make sure she is drinking and eating enough feed with a higher amount of protein and calcium because broody hens ten to not get up as much to care for themselves. The extra protein ( If you have layer pellets or crumbles you should be fine with the protein and calcium. ) helps with energy, growth, and a production of more eggs

They don't lay any eggs after they have made a nest of 10-14 eggs. And then they won't lay until they have weaned chicks, or a few days after being broken from being broody.

 

[Sussex19]

A hen can be broody without any eggs at all.
How does she behave if you take her out?
Does she stay flattened out like pancake, or does she stand there and slowly try to more off?
If the former, she is broody, and you may also see a sort shuffling, to try and get the eggs (even if there aren't any) in the right spot.
If the latter, and she looks sad, then she could be egg bound.

 

[citychicks99]

A hen can be broody without any eggs at all.
How does she behave if you take her out?
Does she stay flattened out like pancake, or does she stand there and slowly try to more off?
If the former, she is broody, and you may also see a sort shuffling, to try and get the eggs (even if there aren't any) in the right spot.
If the latter, and she looks sad, then she could be egg bound.

I was afraid to move her. I'll pick her up later to see how she reacts.

 

[Sussex19]

I was afraid to move her. I'll pick her up later to see how she reacts.

Just pick her up carefully, without any squeezing, (just in case there is an egg stuck in there) and you will be fine.

 

[citychicks99]

Just pick her up carefully, without any squeezing, (just in case there is an egg stuck in there) and you will be fine.

I see she has finally come out and walking around, acting normal. This is the egg she just laid. It looks like there's a bit of yellow on it. Is it possible an egg cracked in her? :/ The egg seems normal otherwise. And I see some poo in the nest box that I'll clean out later.

 

[Sussex19]

I see she has finally come out and walking around, acting normal. This is the egg she just laid. It looks like there's a bit of yellow on it. Is it possible an egg cracked in her? :/ The egg seems normal otherwise. And I see some poo in the nest box that I'll clean out later.

It is possible.
Can you give her some calcium and vitamin D?
You should be able to get tablets, and just pop one down her beak. It might help anything move along.
Keep an eye on her, but hopefully she'll be ok now.

 

[citychicks99]

It is possible.
Can you give her some calcium and vitamin D?
You should be able to get tablets, and just pop one down her beak. It might help anything move along.
Keep an eye on her, but hopefully she'll be ok now.

This is what I have. Each calcium tablet is 250mg and each vitamin D soft gel is 125 mcg. How much should I give her? I can give her a vitamin D but the calcium tablets look pretty big.