Hen "crying" while laying egg

[Chickies321]

Hello everyone,

My "issue" might be a normal occurance but I am a new chicken owner.

This is Dove. A beautiful, quiet and gentle 5 month old black australorp. My hens just started laying and this poor girl seems to be having a rough time. She has laid about 3 or 4 eggs so far and every time she is VERY vocal like she is having the worst labor of life. She also kicks and scratches like she's in pain. This can go on for 30 mins to 1 hour. Her eggs are very normal looking and small, as to be expected from first eggs. The hens are eating layer feed with oyster shells available.

Is there anything I can do to help her or is this just "growing pains"?

Thank you!

 

[FrostRanger]

Sounds like she's having a rough time
Unfortunately it's something you're most likely going to have to wait out while her body adjusts

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Aw i had a hen who would do that
Nothing much you can do though, sorry

 

[Chickies321]

Sounds like she's having a rough time
Unfortunately it's something you're most likely going to have to wait out while her body adjusts

Thank you

 

[Chickies321]

Aw i had a hen who would do that
Nothing much you can do though, sorry

Thank you, did she eventually adjust? I'm hoping that it gets easier for her each day.

 

[WingItRanch]

I have a couple pullets that make an awful lot of noise while laying. I imagine it's not fun pushing an egg out. I watched one of them that made painful sounding chirps but once she laid the egg, she jumped right out of the nest box and went about her business showing no signs of distress. I think some are just whinier and louder than others. I wouldn't worry but it's never a bad idea to keep an eye on her and make sure she's acting normally.

 

[Chickies321]

I have a couple pullets that make an awful lot of noise while laying. I imagine it's not fun pushing an egg out. I watched one of them that made painful sounding chirps but once she laid the egg, she jumped right out of the nest box and went about her business showing no signs of distress. I think some are just whinier and louder than others. I wouldn't worry but it's never a bad idea to keep an eye on her and make sure she's acting normally.

Thank you yes, that seems to be the case. In between her laying event today, she came outside to see if I had snacks and then went back in to finish. She behaves normally after but I will definitely keep an eye on her.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Thank you, did she eventually adjust? I'm hoping that it gets easier for her each day.

Eventually she started laying eggs next to one of her friends in their coop instead of alone, and it did seem to get easier for her

 

[Bawkbok]

I'm grateful I stumbled upon this thread. Our black Australorp laid her very first egg today. She slowly waddled her way across the yard back to the coop and laid in there for over an hour. I went to check on her and it sounded like she was crying. When I peeked in on her she was standing over her egg looking very weak. After she collected herself for a few minutes she came out and stood at the run door to be let out. I let her out and she immediately ran to her sunny sand bath spot and fell asleep, looking like a dead chicken. She didn't move for a half hour. She was fine after that. Her egg is a little elongated and pointy on one end but I assume she'll straighten out - or should I say - round out as she regulates; hoping the egg shape is not indicative of some kind of internal problem. I'm tickled pink to finally have a fresh egg! It's been since April, 2024 that we've been eating store eggs.
Knowing the cries are normal makes me feel better but I will definitely be keeping an eye on her.

 

[WingItRanch]

I'm grateful I stumbled upon this thread. Our black Australorp laid her very first egg today. She slowly waddled her way across the yard back to the coop and laid in there for over an hour. I went to check on her and it sounded like she was crying. When I peeked in on her she was standing over her egg looking very weak. After she collected herself for a few minutes she came out and stood at the run door to be let out. I let her out and she immediately ran to her sunny sand bath spot and fell asleep, looking like a dead chicken. She didn't move for a half hour. She was fine after that. Her egg is a little elongated and pointy on one end but I assume she'll straighten out - or should I say - round out as she regulates; hoping the egg shape is not indicative of some kind of internal problem. I'm tickled pink to finally have a fresh egg! It's been since April, 2024 that we've been eating store eggs.
Knowing the cries are normal makes me feel better but I will definitely be keeping an eye on her.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! I'm so happy to hear this after your long wait!