how long to wait until assuming my pullet is egg-bound?

[TylerEngland]

Hope this question isn't redundant, and TIA!

One of my hens started laying on the 4th of July and has been laying one or two eggs daily since then (the 2x a day eggs have been soft shelled and layed outside of the nesting box).
Anywho, she's gotten into the habit of laying the "normal" eggs before 11am, but this morning she spent several hours straining in the nesting box, making all sorts of weird noises, without laying an egg. She even made those characteristic egg-laying sounds after a while, but still, no egg.

She's since rejoined her sisters and seems to be acting normal, eating, and foraging...I'm just really weirded out by her behavior this morning and don't want to wait until she goes downhill to assume she's egg bound.

Maybe she was just confused this morning, since she's so new to laying? Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Egg binding is VERY serious and can be deadly within 48 hours.

All the extra eggs and the soft shells should stop as her system works its kinks out. And it isn't uncommon for some birds to lay extra prolifically at the start and then take a time out.

If she stays in the box and doesn't come out before roost, if when removed from the nest her tail is bobbing and she has an awkward stance... If she goes off food or water, or if she can't poop. All those things would make start with a warm Epsom bath.

It is possible she was slightly confused or changed her mind. Do you provide extra light in the evening or just natural light?

Many times soft eggs are mistaken for poo and just left anywhere. Sometimes they will get discovered and eaten before we see them.

If she starts acting lethargic, or not staying with the flock, act immediately. Worse thing that happens if your wrong is the gal gets a day at the spa.

 

[TylerEngland]

Thank you so much for your reply! I'll check on her in a bit and see how she's acting or if she has since laid an egg. She hasn't been moving awkwardly so hopefully she was just confused this morning? We do not provide extra light in our coop at this time, just natural, if that changes anything I should be doing. I'll keep you posted!

 

[ChickyPants]

My first thought was that she is very new to egg laying and was probably just being a little bit of a ditz. Watch her carefully for signs of discomfort/illness but this might just be her figuring things out.

 

[TylerEngland]

Thank you so much! Hopefully that's all it is and I'm just being paranoid. They're still teeny little eggs so I wouldn't have thought she'd already be having trouble passing them. She is kind've a ditzy chicken but she's super sweet also!

 

[Hanathehappyhen]

Since she's new to laying she might just be getting into her 'schedule.' But to be safe keep watching her and check if she's pooping. It would also be a safe idea to pull her aside to keep a close eye.If she layed soft eggs today it could have gotten crushed or eaten. Just to be safe give her a warm bath so if there's an egg you can ease it out. Good luck!

 

[Kessel23]

Egg binding is VERY serious and can be deadly within 48 hours.

All the extra eggs and the soft shells should stop as her system works its kinks out. And it isn't uncommon for some birds to lay extra prolifically at the start and then take a time out.

If she stays in the box and doesn't come out before roost, if when removed from the nest her tail is bobbing and she has an awkward stance... If she goes off food or water, or if she can't poop. All those things would make start with a warm Epsom bath.

It is possible she was slightly confused or changed her mind. Do you provide extra light in the evening or just natural light?

Many times soft eggs are mistaken for poo and just left anywhere. Sometimes they will get discovered and eaten before we see them.

If she starts acting lethargic, or not staying with the flock, act immediately. Worse thing that happens if your wrong is the gal gets a day at the spa.

I agree. Also, I have had a hen lay a soft egg before, my silkie hen popped hers before it came out and that thing was eaten in a few seconds by the other birds. She might have had a soft shell that popped and was gobbled down.

 

[TylerEngland]

I agree. Also, I have had a hen lay a soft egg before, my silkie hen popped hers before it came out and that thin was eaten in a few seconds by the other birds. She might have had a soft shell that popped and was gobbled down.

I would not be surprised if this was what happened I've got some little piggies in the bunch

 

[LittleMissCountry]

One of mine started laying almost three weeks ago, and she laid every day, with two soft shell eggs at one time once. Then she went three days without laying, then laid once, skipped a day, and is now finally laying before 9 am every morning. She also did one day where she sat in the nesting box for several hours, sang the egg song, but had no egg. It was just last week.

 

[TylerEngland]

One of mine started laying almost three weeks ago, and she laid every day, with two soft shell eggs at one time once. Then she went three days without laying, then laid once, skipped a day, and is now finally laying before 9 am every morning. She also did one day where she sat in the nesting box for several hours, sang the egg song, but had no egg. It was just last week.

awesome! this post makes me feel a lot better