Need advise from those that watch their hens lay eggs.

[Shellyb]

So I have figured out which of my girls is the egg layer. I am new to chickens and this is my second day of a hopeful egg. Today I ran out to look for my egg but nothing. One of my red sex-links was making more noise then I have ever heard them and just seemed a bit aggitated. I noticed she stayed in the coop while the others went in to the run. I saw her hop up into the nesting boxes that we opened yesterday and waited but when she came out there was still nothing. So I went back a little while later, closed out the other chickens from the coop and sat infront of the door and watched her in the nesting box. She didn't seem annoyed that I was there at all and she was quiet for the most part. She keeps spinning all around the box like she can't get comfy. Her squat is more like a yoga pose of downwards dog with her chest down low and her but up in the air. I thought the squat would be more of the butt down low? She's also taking the pine shavings and putting them on her back and seems to be panting too. I watched for a long time but nothing still. Gee I feel bad for her, lol. I'm preggo with my 2nd child and it looks a lot like labor in a way, lol. Is her behavior normal? Is she bound up? Thanks

 

[scooter147]

The shaving thing and spinning in the nest box is a nesting behavior.

When they lay they look like they are constipated and try to "go".

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mine will lay like that, turn around and make their nest comfy. It can take quite a while. Then they will kind of stand up, their head goes up, their butt goes down. Then you can tell they are squeezing, as their body gets hard and by that time they are almost completely vertical. Then you hear the plop of the egg and their body instantly relaxes.

And yes, it reminds me of labor. Been there twice. I just hope for them it's not as bad since they have to do it everyday.

 

[ChooksChick]

I don't think it's as bad as labor (did it 2 times w/o drugs- oy!) but I have one that makes noise as she bears down...like a little kid or baby will grunt when making poo!

Poor things!

 

[Equus5O]

One of the girls was in a nesting box for a while, and one of the new Polish girls kept bothering her while she was in there. I shooed the Polish away, and stood outside the coop so I could watch and keep the Polish from annoying her. After a little bit, she stood slightly; the squat that has been mentioned, perhaps.

And .... ploop .... out rolled an egg!

She stayed in the box, with the egg, for quite a bit after.