Help! Eggbound?

[wegotchickens2]

One of our Girls, a blk Austrolorp has been sitting in her laying box for about 24 hrs now, and has a puffed up look, like she is trying to pass an egg. When I touch her she coos, I am not sure of if it is a sign of being in pain... we are worried... should we pick her up and try to massage the abdomen to try and work it down? HELP! -Tom and Joe.

 

[DaughterOfEve]

poor girl
Here are some threads discussing treatment of eggbound chickens: hope it helps!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=26414
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=24840

 

[FortWorthChicks]

sounds broody to me.

 

[wegotchickens2]

thank you DaughterofEve for your input... We picked her up, and put her on the floor and found the vent, she then got away from us and went outside. The other girls were feeding and she joined them, was eating a little.. she is not showing the signs I have read about otherwise. Not standing up like a penguin, or upright and hunched up.. Just read she may be broody.. but she is 2 yrs old and has never showed signs of broodiness ever... and never made the furious signs of broody hen being taken off a nest.. and has not tried to get back in the box.. yet.. I hear they try to immediately do that... I guess we'll just wait and see....

anyone have any other ideas? -Tom and Joe.

 

[wegotchickens2]

Thanks Fort Worth!

We hope that that is all it is.. none of our girls (aged almost 2 yrs for the oldest down to one yr coming up in april) has ever shown any signs of broodiness that we can see.. we'd like to, because we'd like some chicks of our own! Thanks again.. gonna go look and see what's up with her. -T&J

 

[fordmommy]

Quote:
Sounds more like broody to me too. She wants a family!

 

[FortWorthChicks]

I have a hen who thinks she is going broody every week. It is so silly, She gets in the nest, puffs up and stays for hours. I will check on her and worry about it. Then she gets tired of the idea and gets off the nest and I find her feathers she has plucked out and put in the nest.

Silly hen.... I doubt she would ever wait for 21 days.

Also sometimes when you take them off the nest thats all it takes to break the spell so she may try again. And if she looks serious and stays a few days you might try and put some eggs under her. I read even hatchery birds which are not known for being broody will sometimes.

Best of luck!!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Sounds more like broody to me too. She wants a family!

I agree.

 

[Bantimna]

Quote:
Sounds more like broody to me too. She wants a family!

I agree.

x3

 

[wegotchickens2]

Thanks to everyone here....

We have decided that she is broody, by how she is behaving, and also by the general consensus here. Relieved at the very least! We have never had to post because of a problem, and we are grateful to the BYC community here. Thanks everyone! Now we need to read up on broody chickens! We know we have fertilised eggs, because Wally the Wyandotte has access to all the Girls. Now we just need to see how and if she will hatch a bunch! Thanks again everyone! Anyone know of or had a Black sex link (hen) X Silvery Wyandotte cross? Both are excellent layers according to what we know..... THANKS AGAIN!!! Tom & Joseph.

PS, On the first post I had said she was a Black Austolorp, I was wrong! She is a Blk Sexlink.