How can I tell if my hen is eggbound?

[Red Raider Ranch]

My EE Glory is approx 2 years old. The first week i had her she was laying aroound every 26-28 hours. This past week she has not laid at all. Only Grumpy, the other EE is laying. How can I tell if she is eggbound. I don't believe she is broody, she doesn't stay in the nesting boxes, however she stays perched up on the highest roost. She will come out to the run, but generally stays indoors. Any help appreciated.

 

[Leighe]

My EE Glory is approx 2 years old. The first week i had her she was laying aroound every 26-28 hours. This past week she has not laid at all. Only Grumpy, the other EE is laying. How can I tell if she is eggbound. I don't believe she is broody, she doesn't stay in the nesting boxes, however she stays perched up on the highest roost. She will come out to the run, but generally stays indoors. Any help appreciated.

My hen looked like she had constipation. She was pushing so hard. If you feel around sometimes you can feel the egg from the outside of the body. Unless its an emergency don't put your fingers up into her vent to feel for an egg. Place her in warm water, her lower portion of body for about 10 minutes and then pull her out of water and put oil around her vent. Hopefully somebody with more experience then I will come help you.
@casportpony
@lazy gardener
[USER=371076]@KikisGirls
@aart
@Ravynscroft[/USER]

 

[Red Raider Ranch]

Thank you for the advice. Unfortunately, I am at my shop all day so I'm not able to be home and watch if she tries to lay. I'll try and get a trail cam or something to set up to watch.

 

[Leighe]

Thank you for the advice. Unfortunately, I am at my shop all day so I'm not able to be home and watch if she tries to lay. I'll try and get a trail cam or something to set up to watch.

Well it doesn't sound like she's eggbound, cause I think their bodies become distressed if they go more then 24 hours....but again someone with more experience will help us here, I'm sure.....

 

[Leighe]

@drumstick diva
@biophiliac
@mobius

 

[Ravynscroft]

Could she be molting?

 

[biophiliac]

I'm not experienced with the 'egg-bound' issue, but if she seems unwell I would give her a general check up. Is she molting? Check her weight/body condition [swelling of abdomen?] . Look carefully for external parasites... get a fecal exam for worms. Check her crop function - full at nite, empty first thing in the am. Best wishes to Glory at Red Raider Ranch

however she stays perched up on the highest roost. She will come out to the run, but generally stays indoors.

Is this a change in her behavior? Any pecking order issues?

 

[biophiliac]

My hen looked like she had constipation. She was pushing so hard. If you feel around sometimes you can feel the egg from the outside of the body. Unless its an emergency don't put your fingers up into her vent to feel for an egg. Place her in warm water, her lower portion of body for about 10 minutes and then pull her out of water and put oil around her vent. Hopefully somebody with more experience then I will come help you.
@casportpony
@lazy gardener
[USER=371076]@KikisGirls
@aart
@Ravynscroft[/USER]

Did I read somewhere that some extra calcium [Tums???} can help a hen expel an egg?

 

[rebrascora]

Hi

Did you recently add these hens to your flock or recently acquire them? Moving to a new home or a new flock can cause them to stop laying, but the eggs that are in their system when you get them still have to come out, so they sometimes lay for a few days after the move and then stop. As others have said, moulting is another option, particularly at that age....we are starting to get into moulting season in the northern hemisphere now.
If she is egg bound, you will notice that she is distressed and it will often prove fatal after a few days, so you will see obvious deterioration. If she is spending a lot of time up on the perch, it may be that she is feeling bullied or lacking confidence to join the flock. That can be another effect of moving home if you have only just got her, but it can also be an indication of illness. How do the other birds interact with her.... you should notice if she is being bullied if you lift her off the roost and put her in amongst the flock. Do you have a rooster. Some hens will stay up on the roost as much as possible, to avoid his attentions, particularly if he is young and rampant.

 

[Red Raider Ranch]

I have 12 hens (various breeds) and 1 Buff Roo. They were all rescues. They have all been together for about 17 weeks now. I received them only 2 weeks ago. The Roo is 18 weeks. When Glory is with the flock, she chases and pecks at the smaller ones. My other EE Grumpy and her are the only two that sit on the top perch and will pick at each other from time to time. I have not noticed Glory being bullied.