How do I know if she's eggbound?

[swampcat]

My Nelly laid 11 eggs in row (her first eggs), then yesterday went to the nesting box, came out squawking, but no egg. I thought maybe she took the day off even though I was a little nervous about the whole situation (can you tell I'm an over-protective chicken-newbie?) Today she went into the nesting box and stayed there for an hour, but no egg again. Yesterday she seemed fine after it, but today she seems.... sad? Mopey? Just not herself.

How would I know if she is truly egg bound or if she's just taking some time off from laying? I palpated her abdomen but didn't really notice any egg shape... not that I really know what feels normal (after all, how often am I massaging chicken bellies?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[top of the hill]

good question,
I experienced something similiar the other day, my RIR (who literally just started to lay) was lathargic, not eating, laying down in the corner. I thought perhaps something stuck in her crop, tried to give her olive oil and then she puffed out her feathers and squatted and out popped a soft squishy egg. kinda gross. and it was her second of the day.

Someone mentioned to keep my eyes on her behavior and make sure that she doesn't get eggbound, but I'm not quite sure how to tell (other than the mentioned symtoms) or what to do if that did happen. I'm looking forward to see some responses. Thanks for the post!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Quote:
I understand the "over-protective" thing...but that is the way we learn about what is normal, or not, for our chickens. Is she eating and drinking?

 

[swampcat]

Yay Chicks! :

Is she eating and drinking?

Yes she is, but she just doesn't seem her spunky self. Do all chickens sit on the nest regardless of if they will lay that day?​

 

[ninabeast]

I'd love to know this, too. I've had three chickens so far today who stayed in a nesting box and left nothing behind. I figured they were just resting, as yesterday almost everyone layed...

 

[Mamma_Duck04]

What kind of chicken is she? I have a RIR when first started laying, would throw a double yolker about every 3rd egg, then be off for a day, & start over again. Now she's been laying for a few months & will still occasionally throw a double yolker & go off a day. Have you been observing her recent eggs? Do any look different than the rest? Depending on her breed, she might not be 'meant' to lay every day & she's just getting into her laying pattern.

I noticed all mine sorta acted a bit 'off' for the first couple weeks after they started to lay, they kept eating & drinking & would move around, though sometimes just not as neurotic as usual, but then they perked up & have been fine since. It could just be her getting into the hormone swing & all that. There's lots of threads on here about the changes in behavior/personality that many chickens go through once they start laying.

 

[swampcat]

She's a RIR/golden comet/something/something barnyard mix.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid. She was on quite the egg-laying streak. Each egg was the same as the one before it, no signs of anything potentially going awry.

And then yesterday my barred rock cross laid her first egg and didn't today... but her comb looks much paler than it did yesterday. I worry more about these girls than I do my own children!