- Mar 27, 2019
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I have a Black Australorp hen who is pacing constantly and erratically, and keeps going to her nesting box and scratching around in it loudly and furiously. She will thence out of the nesting box and go back in, very fast over and over. She will come down to the run and pace again then go back into the coop and do the egg box routine again. If this behavior was only for a little while I feel it would be classified as normal. All our hens scratch the nesting box lightly right before laying. But this has been going on for a few hours now and increasing in intensity. I finally just took her aside and put on a glove with some KY to try to feel for an egg. I can't be sure but I felt like there was one. She is still very interested in food and she isnt waddling. But she is back in the box now scratching loudly, almost sounds like someone is punching the box. Ive tried adding fresh pine shavings and herbs, Ive given her some extra oyster shell. She just seems like she is in agony. Should I wait this out or try to dip her in a warm bath? She goes to bed in only a couple hours. These hens have a tendency to lay late but not this late. Any guidance would be appreciated. Video link to her behavior attached.