egg laying problem????

[dumb chicken lady]

This is my 1st post, I would appreciate any advice. I have a Plymoth Rock. She has been trying to lay an egg in her nest. Today is the 3rd day. She has not come out. I pulled her out yest. and watered her, she would not eat. Went straight back to nest. This morn I checked, she is still in nest. I pulled her out, she would not water. Her bumm is all coated in gooky stuff. Still no egg. Can a chicken get clogged up??? Is there anything I can do to help her????? She wouldn't walk when I pulled her out this morn and she flew straight back to her nest. HELP!!!!! My husband said put olive oil in her water...I'll try anything.

 

[silkiechicken]

See if she is egg bound by feeling around. She should be listless though if she is hurting. Are you sure she is not broody?

 

[hinkjc]

Yup a little oil in the water may help. You could also try black oil sunflower seeds for all of your girls (keeps things rolling smooth in there).

To help this girl - she is either trying to lay (sounds like this one since she is gooky back there) or she is broody (wants to hatch babies). I'd go with the stuck egg and work to resolve that problem first. You can make her a nice warm bath and soak her in it. Sounds more difficult than it is...most enjoy it once their in a bit. Sometimes this helps her to pass the egg by relaxing the muscles back there. Let us know how she does. And make sure to dry her completely before putting her back out. If someone could hold her for you, while you blow dry on low, that should work.

Jody

 

[dumb chicken lady]

ok, I will try the warm bath now and clean the gooky stuff. I think broody means she wants to "sit on eggs and hatch them????" Um, thats a possibility but she won't eat or drink so I'm not sure, there are no eggs under her. She's quietly clucking. I read in other posts, mineral oil for various things, do I put that in water or give it to her straight?

 

[justusnak]

The bath will help alot...and I would offer her some black oil sunflower seeds as well. She might just eat them. Try giving her a treat...like small pieces of tomatos Mine love em. Or even some cantelope. The sugar in it will help give her energy as well as hydrate her. Definately the bath tho...to clean her up and relax those muscles.

 

[dumb chicken lady]

Well, I gave her a bath, tried to clean her matted bumm, got most of it. When I released her from the water she promptly poo'd... good sign??? There were 2 poos and they were very hard. I did not feel an egg inside her. I took her nest away (a box that only she uses, my others use their nest that I made) She is walking around her coop, clucking softly, she ate a couple bites of layer feed still have not seen her drink. She is a bit feisty towards her other feathered friends. Does a hen brood after laying for 12 days or so???? I do not have a rooster. What exactly happens when a hen broods? I'm just not sure if she has a stuck egg? Can that happen?

 

[dumb chicken lady]

Thank you soooo much for your replies, I chopped up some tomatoe, cucumbers. Went out to her coop and I left the gate open, she was in the backyard in her BOX! I pulled her out of her box, gave her tom/cukes. She nibbled. I fed the rest of the gals, she ate w/ them w/ out much enthusiasm. I will run to the store for black sunflower seeds. So, I am deduced to this she has eaten, she has walked. Maybe not as bad off as I orginally thought? What does her behavior mean???? For the past 2 days she has not come out of her box and no eggs. I am so confused.

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, if she's picking on other hens and puffs out turkey like, I would say you just may have a broody. You don't need a rooster or even eggs in a nest for silly chickens to go broody. Still try to find that illusive stuck egg though if you think that's the problem still. My broody would sit all day and night and eat only once a day. She would also squak when you tried to mover her from her nest though.

 

[Cheri]

Im learning so much from other peoples problems.

 

[Whirlwind]

Wondering how your hen was doing????