Egg bound???

[MissSL]

Hi again, these chucks are really testing me!
This is Flo, she has two eleven week old chicks. Flo has been laying again for two weeks, but suddenly stopped laying on Wednesday. Didn't panic, but she has very pale, mostly liquid droppings, & has for a week. She keeps going in the coop and nesting for ages, then comes out without laying. She's so far eating & drinking and is active. As you can she she's still nice and red but she does seem to have quite a full tummy, although she didn't this morning when I let her out. Our four (adult) girls are currently on grower because if our 7 chicks, which I know can cause problems. I do offer oyster shell and this morning I managed to let the girls out before the chicks so they could have some layers pellets. I'm assuming she may be becoming egg bound although I can't feel anything, just in case I've brought her in, given her a warm bath as suggested and popped some KY jelly up the rear end slightly. She's currently drying off in clean shavings with some clean water, layers pellets and oyster shell. I have tried to get some calcium carbonate into her (crushed on raisins) but I don't think she's taken much. Is there anything else I can do to help her? Does it sound like she is egg bound to you? Thanks.

 

[MissSL]

 

[azygous]

It may be she's just having a difficult egg, and she may not be to the point of being egg bound, which is very serious.

You're doing all the right things. A bit of heat will relax her and help pass the egg. I rig a heating pad in a pet crate rather than do the warm water soak because it's less messy and you can leave her for an hour or so to relax. Put the setting on medium heat and slip it under a fluffy towel. Place the crate in a quiet but not dark place.

This usually works and you will see an egg within an hour.

 

[MissSL]

Ok, so it's now been 6 days with no egg. Flo is still eating, drinking & generally well. She is still going and sitting in the nesting box, on the other girls eggs!
She has no broody spot, but could she possibly be broody again 11 weeks after her chicks hatched?

 

[azygous]

Do you know when she began laying again after weaning the chicks? I have a broody with a 40 day cycle - becomes broody again 40 days after beginning to lay again.

There are many signs of broodiness. The bald patch is but one. The most telling is the "broody cluck", a low persistent "muttering" that increases in velocity and tone when she's disturbed on the nest, accompanied by puffing up of feathers in defense.