worried about egg binding

[aldarita]

OK so I am a newbie, just got my girls last April, they are all laying now and I am so very happy and grateful for it. Yesterday I noticed that one of my barred rocks was acting weird, she layed on the ground when everybody else was free ranging. I free range them for few hours every day under my supervision (lots of hawks in my area). After I put them back in their run, she still layed on the ground, I picked her up and checked her but did not find anything unusual so I put her back down. Later on I checked again and she was in the coop in a nesting box. Checked again later and she was out with the others being her normal happy self.
When she was acting strange I worried about her being egg binded so I almost panic because it is complicated and dangerous to help them.from what I have read. I am glad it all solved itself but it makes me wonder if she was trying to lay a big egg and was having trouble with it (she did lay a big egg after all). Does anybody know if this type of behavior is common in young layers and if it happens often???
By the way I want to thank all of you for answering my previous questions about other issues with my girls, you all have been very helpful and it gives me a piece of mind getting more knowledge to make a more comfortable life for my hens.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

In young layers it's common. She laid the egg so thats really good. You cant really tell if it will happen again. Every chicken is different.

 

[sumi]

How long has she been laying? I remember when my pullets started laying some started by laying small eggs and some normal size eggs and then they laid a few huge double yolkers, some with blood on it, which worried me quite a bit. After a while they settled into laying normal eggs, apart from a really big one or a "fart" egg now and then. It seems they need to work out the kinks in their system and practice a bit when they start. Nothing to worry about!

 

[aldarita]

Thank you for your answers, I feel a lot better now knowing that it is a normal behavior and that they are all adapting to their life as layers. So far it has been wonderful and I hope it stays that way.

 

[aldarita]

She started laying towards the end of September so she is new in this business. Hopefully she will adapt and work out the "kinks". Thanks for your answer

 

[krackowpolish]

well if one of your hens do get egg bound hears some tips to help them: soak there bum in hot (not too hot) water, make sure they stay nice and warm, put them in a wire floored cage boil some water and put the cage on top of the pot (or take a shower with them but you dont need to get them wet, its for getting them relaxed), you can also put lub jellie in there vent. hope this helps sometime!