Is she egg bound ?

[rebeccaH86]

Ok so my girl Hazel has been a wonderful layer since she started last month but for the last two days she's been laying in the nesting box for hours and I go out to check on her there's no egg to be found ,she's acting perfectly fine but laying in the boxes forever without producing an egg .. could she be getting egg bound or is it something else? The last egg she laid was the 4th .

 

[coach723]

Has she gone broody? Does she fluff up and growl at you when you approach or move her? Hens that go broody will not lay until they've either been broken of broodiness, or have hatched and raised chicks. If she's pooping, she's not egg bound, and egg bound birds generally go down hill rapidly if they are not able to pass it.

 

[rebeccaH86]

Has she gone broody? Does she fluff up and growl at you when you approach or move her? Hens that go broody will not lay until they've either been broken of broodiness, or have hatched and raised chicks. If she's pooping, she's not egg bound, and egg bound birds generally go down hill rapidly if they are not able to pass it.

She doesn't fluff up nor growl when I check on her she let's me lift her to look for an egg , hopefully she's not going broody cause there's no man around for her lol
Good to know about the pooping then I would have to say she's not egg bound maybe just trying to go broody .

 

[rebeccaH86]

I went out and took her out of the nesting boxes, what's the best way to brake broodyness? Just keep taking her out when she's in there way too long ?

 

[coach723]

If she's broody and she's not going to hatch eggs, it's best to break her (sounds bad but it's not). Use a wire crate raised up on blocks or boards so air circulates all around her, no bedding or nesting material at all, her own food and water, til she changes her mind. Some will snap out of it in a day or two, some take a little longer. If you keep the crate in the run so she can still see and be seen by the others, then putting her back with the flock is easier afterward. I would give her a good going over as well, to make sure it's nothing else. Make sure her crop is working properly, she's eating and drinking normally, droppings are normal, etc. No other indications of possible illness. Example below of broody breakers.

 

[Olympic_Chickens]

Ok so my girl Hazel has been a wonderful layer since she started last month but for the last two days she's been laying in the nesting box for hours and I go out to check on her there's no egg to be found ,she's acting perfectly fine but laying in the boxes forever without producing an

Ok so my girl Hazel has been a wonderful layer since she started last month but for the last two days she's been laying in the nesting box for hours and I go out to check on her there's no egg to be found ,she's acting perfectly fine but laying in the boxes forever without producing an egg .. could she be getting egg bound or is it something else? The last egg she laid was the 4th .

Ok so my girl Hazel has been a wonderful layer since she started last month but for the last two days she's been laying in the nesting box for hours and I go out to check on her there's no egg to be found ,she's acting perfectly fine but laying in the boxes forever without producing an egg .. could she be getting egg bound or is it something else? The last egg she laid was the 4th .

She’s most likely broody! I have a hen like this who’s nice enough not to attack me when I lift her up. Which is always nice. The best thing to do is isolate her in a dark space without a roosting ox for a few days. This should break her of it.

 

[rebeccaH86]

Hazel is officially in broody jail ,man I hope she snaps out of it quick . Everyone is wondering what the heck is going on lol .. I had to improvise with a guinea pig cage though.

 

[coach723]

I would recommend turning that cage over so the wire is on the bottom, and raise it up on some blocks or boards. If the wires are too far apart then a layer of hardware cloth attached will fix that. Secure the top with something else so she can't get out. If it's sitting on the ground she will still try to nest there. Broodies will nest and sit on ANYTHING given the opportunity. Rocks, bottles, dirt, pecans, nothing at all, etc. The reason for no bedding of any kind and raising up the cage is to let air circulate and cool her off. Broodies get very warm, lowering their temp helps them change their mind about sitting. Any opportunity to sit will just reinforce her broodiness. The wire takes away her having any way to sit.

 

[rebeccaH86]

I would recommend turning that cage over so the wire is on the bottom, and raise it up on some blocks or boards. If the wires are too far apart then a layer of hardware cloth attached will fix that. Secure the top with something else so she can't get out. If it's sitting on the ground she will still try to nest there. Broodies will nest and sit on ANYTHING given the opportunity. Rocks, bottles, dirt, pecans, nothing at all, etc. The reason for no bedding of any kind and raising up the cage is to let air circulate and cool her off. Broodies get very warm, lowering their temp helps them change their mind about sitting. Any opportunity to sit will just reinforce her broodiness. The wire takes away her having any way to sit.

I will definitely go do that , Thank you .