Chickens locked out

[Skibum]

I accidentally locked my chickens out of their coop today after doing some clean up on a hens chicken saddle. They were in their enclosed run. It wasn’t terribly cold out today (20s and 30s) when they’ve been exposed to many days of negatives this winter. Two of my hens this morning laid eggs. My 3rd laying hen didn’t lay this morning. She didn’t look too bad and went up to the roost with the rest of the Flocken when I opened the coop door at bedtime (I had been at work for 6 hour before realizing my mistake). This hen was a little puffed up from the cold. I am very stressed that she didn’t have access to the nest box today and may not have had the chance to lay. Would she just lay in the run if she really needed to? I’m afraid she could have one break inside her from lack of access to her box. Is this a valid fear?

 

[sourland]

I think it is more likely that she is just skipping a day.

 

[Skibum]

I think it is more likely that she is just skipping a day.

She didn’t lay yesterday. She lays about 4x weekly. Do you think if they really need to lay they’d just do it even if their locked out from the nest box?

 

[sourland]

I do.

 

[Skibum]

I do.

Thank you.

 

[DonyaQuick]

Would she just lay in the run if she really needed to?

That's what mine have done (mostly something I ran into re-integrating broody hens who were starting up laying again). Yours may have either skipped a day or hidden an egg somewhere interesting. Some chickens will also eat eggs laid in weird places eve n if they don't peck at the ones in nests, so it's possible for there to be no evidence. I had a hen lay an egg off the side of my lap once because she wanted hugs more than to go to the nest box, and that stray egg was devoured in minutes, shell and all; if I hadn't seen it I'd never have known.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Yeah, if my hens are unable to get into their preferred nests (I have more than enough), they'll sometimes lay on the coop floor or in the run. I'm sure she's fine. But I understand the worry!

 

[Skibum]

Yeah, if my hens are unable to get into their preferred nests (I have more than enough), they'll sometimes lay on the coop floor or in the run. I'm sure she's fine. But I understand the worry!

Thank you for your response it makes me feel a little better.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes they'll lay somewhere else if they can't get to their usual nesting spot.

 

[Skibum]

My nightmare came true. This morning there is eggy poop in the run and my favorite hen Genny has eggy poop on her. Any advice?