Hen won’t leave coop- but hasn’t laid an egg

[jbrajdich]

Not sure what is wrong with my most (typically) outgoing hen. Won’t come out for treats or free ranging for two days.. but she doesn’t seem to be laying any eggs or sitting on other eggs. Any ideas to see what else is wrong? No obvious injuries

 

[EggSighted4Life]

How old is your hen and what breed? Where is she staying in the coop? In the lay box, on roost, in a corner? What is the body stance? Do you know when her last egg was? How does she act when you approach? Annoyed, lethargic?

Broody hens don't lay eggs and will sit on nothing. They also won't come out to eat unless they deem it's time. They have slowed down their metabolism so they don't have to defecate as often in order to keep eggs warm and clean. How does she act if you bring her out of the coop and set her on the ground?

If she were egg bound she would likely be in serious condition by now. Have you seen any droppings, what is their color and consistency?

Check her crop and see if it's full and hard, squishy with water, empty. Maybe check now, again at roost time, then in the morning before food or water is available to see if it is emptying over night.

What do you feed including treats and supplements? Current weather conditions?

Adding your general location to your profile can help peeps make the best suggestion possible at a glance.

Hoping all is well and she recovers quickly!

 

[jbrajdich]

Thank you for the response! She is about 2 years old and is some sort of mixed breed- looks like an olive egger. She is sitting in a nesting box and doesn’t seem to be bothered by me touching her or looking to feel if there are eggs underneath her.

I’m in western Wisconsin; the weather here has been pretty nice and only in low 80’s mostly. I feed fruit leftovers occasionally and scratch, but they do a lot of free ranging too. I haven’t seen her get up, so unsure about droppings.

I took her out of the box and set her outside and she just stands there. Didn’t poop and didn’t feel anything in her crop.

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

Aww, poor girl. Sorry she isn't well. Have you added any new chickens to your coop recently? What about the weather, is it hot? Can you post a picture of her, please? And if you can, one of her poo.

 

[jbrajdich]

When I took her out, she stood around confused for a little while, and then a few minutes later she went back to a nesting box. Right now she’s holding her ground with a hen who wants to lay an egg in her box

 

[jbrajdich]

 

[jbrajdich]

Also, no new chickens in the coop, and she’s at the top of the social ladder with this group

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

Aww, poor girl; it's like she's depressed. Have you lost a chicken recently?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Out of curiousity... what, exactly, does she do if given an egg? And have you seen her poop? Because this sounds exactly like broodiness to me.

 

[jbrajdich]

Ohh.. ok, well that is good to know! She’s with another hen laying an egg, so I will check to see how she does! I thought if she wasn’t already laying on one, it might mean she was sick.
Thank you both!