Eggbound or something else??

[coach723]

Sounding more and more like a reproductive problem.

 

[chickndays]

Does her abdomen feel bloated, below the vent, between the legs? Also is her keel bone well muscled or is the bone very prominent? Hard to say if she's not laying due to molt, or if there is more going on. The stance and behavior makes it sound like a reproductive problem. Do you know for sure she was laying before, and was she laying normally and regularly? When she poops, are they normal looking? Is she pooping less often than normal or straining? Also check her crop. If possible check it tonight to see if there is food in it and how it feels, then check first thing in the morning before she's had access to food or water, it should be empty then. 18 months is a little young for a reproductive problem, but it's not impossible, and if she's laying internally, that can start very early. Have you checked her over carefully to make sure there are no injuries hiding in feathers?

Yes, there's definitely something going on back there. I checked her again and it does feel like hard swelling and warm beneath vent on both sides of lower/bottom backend and she acts like she's weighed down. She was actually laying down next to the waterer this evening so she could drink freely. I haven't compared to another hen yet. Other hens should be molting now and are still laying so far. I had looked her over a bit and didn't see any injuries.
Chickens are mystifying.

I don't know if there are breed related problems or hatchery breeding problems but she was a McMurray mail order chick.