Chicken thinks she layed an egg but didn't?

[Egg_cited]

I have a three year old speckled sussex the one in my profile. She's as active as can be. However, she's never been a good or even a decent layer. Barely lays so I just keep her cause she's pretty. However, recently she's been doing this thing where she sits in the nesting boxes for hours and then goes off and thinks she layed? I highly doubt she has some type of ovary cancer because she hardly ever lays eggs. The last egg she might of layed (I'm not sure if it was her though) was possibly a few weeks ago.

 

[Egg_cited]

@azygous

 

[azygous]

Do you have other SS of her breed or just her? SS eggs are pretty recognizable due to pale tan and the medium size. It's important to note when she lays and what the quality of the shell is.

When a hen heads to a nest it's because she is feeling the sensation of an egg coming down her oviduct, and she remains on the nest for as long as this pressure sensation remains.

It's doubtful she's got an egg stuck, but it is possible the egg is shifting in the oviduct and perhaps risking getting dumped out at some point into her abdominal cavity. When this happens, it's called internal laying. Hens do not survive this for long.

None of this can be helped. You can only intervene if, by lethargic behavior, the hen gives indication she's become egg bound. At that point, you can administer a calcium supplement to stimulate contractions to help her get the egg out.

If this behavior has only recently been occurring, it could be attributed to end of season drop-off of egg laying if you are located in the northern hemisphere. Hens can have irregular laying habits as they approach molt.

 

[NatJ]

ecently she's been doing this thing where she sits in the nesting boxes for hours and then goes off and thinks she layed?

What do you mean, "thinks she layed"?

Maybe she just felt like sitting in the nestbox (not actually broody, but perhaps something similar hormonally.)

 

[Egg_cited]

Do you have other SS of her breed or just her? SS eggs are pretty recognizable due to pale tan and the medium size. It's important to note when she lays and what the quality of the shell is.

When a hen heads to a nest it's because she is feeling the sensation of an egg coming down her oviduct, and she remains on the nest for as long as this pressure sensation remains.

It's doubtful she's got an egg stuck, but it is possible the egg is shifting in the oviduct and perhaps risking getting dumped out at some point into her abdominal cavity. When this happens, it's called internal laying. Hens do not survive this for long.

None of this can be helped. You can only intervene if, by lethargic behavior, the hen gives indication she's become egg bound. At that point, you can administer a calcium supplement to stimulate contractions to help her get the egg out.

If this behavior has only recently been occurring, it could be attributed to end of season drop-off of egg laying if you are located in the northern hemisphere. Hens can have irregular laying habits as they approach molt.

They get plenty of calcium. I'm not sure how long it's been going on but I'm assuming a long time. I'm not sure if it's internal laying because she acts fine. Unfortunately, yes she is my only SS. I've tried giving her calcium pills but nothing seems to work. Her behavior hasn't changed either. She just jumps into the nesting boxes sits there for a long time then comes out gobbles some food and is done.

 

[Egg_cited]

Here's a picture of her

 

[Egg_cited]

Just went to check since she was in the nest and again no egg. What I have noticed is that she doesn't "squawk" once she "thinks" she layed an egg and adding to that she doesn't like squat or make any sound like the rest do when they try to lay eggs.

 

[azygous]

Have you considered that she may be broody? Have you checked to see if she's missing feathers on her breast along her keel bone? Is she doing any rapid clucking under her breath?

 

[Egg_cited]

Have you considered that she may be broody? Have you checked to see if she's missing feathers on her breast along her keel bone? Is she doing any rapid clucking under her breath?

She's not broody that's for sure. She always does this weird clucking when it gets hot when she breaths and she sounds like a duck. I don't know if that's what you're talking about though since she's done that ever since she was one. But no one else does that she is just my special weird chook I guess

 

[Egg_cited]

@azygous is it normal for chickens to make a "honking" noise when it's hot? Only this hen does it when she breaths.