Is my silkie sick, or about to lay her first egg?

[MySuburbanLife]

My 28 week-old buff silkie (Tessa) has been exhibiting what I thought were signs that she is getting ready to lay her first egg:
-her face has turned dark purplish-black, her comb is looking like a raisin on top of her head, and she's got little waddles
-she squatted for me for the first time two days ago
-she's getting rather vocal, and this morning was singing (her egg song?) so loud I ran out to the coop to see if the girls were being attacked
-she started taking interest in the oyster shells I have set out free-choice

So this morning I've been out stalking the girls, hoping to witness this event. As I was watching Tessa closely, she seems to be acting strangely... and I'm not sure if it's first time egg-laying jitters for her, or she's not feeling well:
-when she settles down and sits on the ground, she puffs up her feathers and her breathing seems labored. Her whole body moves as she breathes
-when she walks around she occasionally stops and pulls one leg up under her. Then walks a few more steps and pulls the other leg up

She's eating and drinking normally. Is she just feeling/acting weird because this is her first egg, or does it sound like she's sick?

I'm a first-time egg mama, so I'm very nervous!

 

[pollitaroja]

I have a white silky she is the older of the coop. She is laying now but she doesn' make noises like all hens I've known. As I get different chickens I learn more different type of behaviors. I thinks is just wait and learn. Nature takes its many different ways.I wish you a happy outcome. Pollita roja allways