Just got my first egg and a question.

[oceansunset73]

First time chicken owner and my 21 week old Rhode Island Red, Truffles, just laid her first egg, I'm so excited. Proud chicken mommy....

However, a few hours afterwards I noticed she is now just laying in the back of the run by herself, with her behind sticking up in the air. She wants nothing to do with anyone, which isn't like her at all. I'm assuming her being very lethargic, and having a little pain is normal for a first time egg laying? Just want to make sure she's ok.

I'm going to check on her again in about an hour to make sure she goes up into the coup and roosts with the others for the night.

Am I being too overly concerned, or is this normal behavior?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Definitely not normal. Could be she's got another egg coming, sometimes when they start up the ovulate more than once a day.

 

[oceansunset73]

Oh no! I definitely need to be keeping an eye on her then. I did just check on her a few minutes ago, and she was able to get up into the coup by herself and roost with the others, so that's good.

I plan on going to Tractor Supply on my way home from work tomorrow and pick up some oyster shells to help with her calcium intake.

Is there anything else I can do? Is there anything I need to be watching for?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If she gets worse than I would be worried. Since she went to roost okay, she could just be recovering from that first egg. I can't imagine it's a comfortable process.

 

[oceansunset73]

Thank you.

I checked in on her before heading to work this morning, and she is still with the other girls on the top roost inside the coup. I'll definetely be checking on her as soon as I get back home from work to see how she is doing.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

One of my pullets last year acted like that before and a bit after she started laying. She would lay around a lot and I thought she was sick, but after a few eggs she straightened out. I would assume laying eggs involves cramping and new sensations that aren't always pleasant.

 

[oceansunset73]

I checked the nesting boxes and no new egg. But then as I started cleaning up the coup I noticed a shell-less double-yolk egg mixed in with all the poopies. Right underneath where Truffles was roosting so she must have passed it some time in the night. She's back to her old self again so I'm happy.

 

[Carol McLaine]

I checked the nesting boxes and no new egg. But then as I started cleaning up the coup I noticed a shell-less double-yolk egg mixed in with all the poopies. Right underneath where Truffles was roosting so she must have passed it some time in the night.

She's back to her old self again so I'm happy.

If Truffles is your avatar, she has a very sweet face. Some chickens can look ornery, but yours looks like a sweetie. Glad to hear she is doing well.

 

[oceansunset73]

If Truffles is your avatar, she has a very sweet face. Some chickens can look ornery, but yours looks like a sweetie. Glad to hear she is doing well.

Thank you so much. Yes it is her. She's a little younger in the picture, her cone is now flopping over to the side LOL but for a Rhode Island/Production Red she is a sweetie. She's my little goof ball, such personality.