How Urgent is Egg-Laying?

[KWestVA]

My pullet makes a grumbling/crying sound when she is ready to lay an egg. However, it has been unseasonably cold (20°F at the moment), so I have been keeping her inside, and she refuses to lay her eggs anywhere but the outside coop, which is too small to insulate properly (i.e. if I added insulating materials, there would be no room for chickens).

I would prefer to just keep her inside until it warms up in a couple of hours, but would that be detrimental to her health if she is ready to lay?

P.S. An additional complication is that if she cries for very long, the cockerels start their alarm call, and then my dog (their self-appointed guardian) freaks out.

 

[nuthatched]

She could get egg boud if the process is interupted too long.
20 isn't cold for chickens, put her back out in the coop.
Insulation won't help if your coop is ventilated properly, it's just a mouse hotel.

 

[Bawkbok]

Agree with @nuthatched. Put her back in the coop and let her lay normally. She'll be fine if you have bedding in the nest boxes.
It's also not good for her to be separated from her flock; this could create stress for her.

 

[angc11]

Unless she's less than 5 weeks old, 20 degrees is not a problem and she does not need to be indoors. My chickens sleep in a metal box (with tons of ventilation) where I occasionally see temps as low as -5° F with high winds and they are fine. They also free range during the day in temps as low 0° F and have no issues. And people north of me keep chickens in way colder temps than that. As long as they can stay dry and get partially out of the wind, they have feathers and can huddle with each other to keep warm. I agree with everyone above that you are doing more harm than good keeping her inside.

 

[KWestVA]

Thanks for all of the advice! I just get nervous when not only does the chicken's water freeze solid, my small pond with an aerator freezes over as well!

(Just FYI: I've been keeping everyone inside, not just Blondie, so they're not isolated in a social sense.)

 

[nuthatched]

Thanks for all of the advice! I just get nervous when not only does the chicken's water freeze solid, my small pond with an aerator freezes over as well!

(Just FYI: I've been keeping everyone inside, not just Blondie, so they're not isolated in a social sense.)

Bringing them in is doing more harm than good, scoot the little devils back outside.