Help! Possibly sick 6 month hen still in nest box at 10 p.m.!

[hellotexas]

I am sick right now and only checked on my "girls" once today, at 6:30 this evening. One of my six month old black Austrolorps was in the nest bucket! I've never had anyone lay that late in the day, so I went back an hour later and she was still in there. I went ahead and pulled her out, but as I am relatively new to chickens, I really didn't know what to check for. I did turn her upside down; her cloaca was enlarged, but as I felt around, I really didn't feel anything like an egg stuck inside. Her pelvic bones seem really close together for a young layer.

It is now 10 p.m. and I went out to lock the girls in for the night ~ she is STILL in the nest bucket! I live in the Houston area and it's very warm even at night, with little or no airflow into that bucket. Should I pull her out and put her on the roost? Should I set up a dog kennel and set her in there? I really don't know what to do and any help would be appreciated. Having to figure this out while suffering from the flu is not fun. : (

Thanks

 

[Marty1876]

She may just like it in there. One of my australorps (when I kept them) preferred the cozy box. If she's laying at all, she could have decided to go broody on you.

 

[TeamChaos]

Oh no! A sick chicken is never fun, but it's especially miserable when you're sick too! It i my understanding that chickens don't lay eggs past one hour after sundown, but that might be an old wives' tale. Was your hen able to walk? If she is egg bound, she will be sort of hunched up with her tail down. Does she get picked on when it's time to go to roost? Maybe she decided she didn't want to fight, so she hid in the box. If you have the energy, I'd say either put her on the roost and see if she stays up there or bring her in and give her a warm soak and keep her in for the nite- whatever will allow for YOU to get some rest too!