Help, Silkie going to nest box daily but not laying?! Is she laying internally?!

Jun 7, 2020
55
23
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NSW, Australia
Hey all,

I'm looking for some advice regarding one of my lovely silkie hens. She is ~ 2 years old and is (maybe) acting a bit out of sorts. Four of our 7 chooks are broody at the moment. The chook I am worried about isn't broody but she goes into the nest box each day for maybe an hour or two but then when she eventually emerges she hasn't laid an egg. I am just concerned that she may be laying internally. Obviously most of her mates are brooding so maybe that's why she seems out of sorts, not as many of the girls for company.

She hasn't laid an egg in at least a week now and I'm wondering what I should do. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I weighed her about 8 weeks ago and her weight hasn't changed much since then. I checked her vent the day before yesterday and it looked like there was a bit of internal stuff sticking out (see photo) but when I checked again today it looked totally normal. She is on the light side for a silkie and only weighs just under a kilo.

I wormed the whole flock with levimasole a few days ago and they eat premium layer feed (Red hen 17) with shell grit on the side. We also feed corn, black solider fly larvae and meal worms for treats. I am happy to go to the vet if its super necessary but don't wanna jump the gun as its expensive. Any advice and suggestions will be much appreciated!!!


Pikelets Vent 01:09:2021.jpg
 
So it's not a pretty thing but lube your finger up with petroleum jelly or mineral oil and gently insert to feel if there is an egg. If there is liberally lube it up. I've done it before it's more mentally uncomfortable for me than the bird I think.. lol. They act like it never happened after where you will remember. If it's egg binding this should help a bit.
 
You're finger going in will be smaller than what will come out just go slow and use that petroleum jelly liberally! Better a greasy slippery butt than a dry rough hello.
 

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