hi to you all, this is my first post. I have been trawling previous posts to get some advice but I am in the sticks in Spain and my internet connection is not very good so it is taking a long time.
i have 3 hens around 23 weeks old and am just waiting for the first egg which I think should be anytime soon. About 5 or 6 days ago I went to let the girls out of their pen to free range and Popeye was in the nest box - unusual because they usually wait at the door to go out. thinking that she may have laid an egg I was eager to have a look and flushed her out. There was no egg and she went out reluctantly with the other 2. the rest of the day she spent on her own - unusual again because they usually forage together and was lying down a lot. When it came time to get them back in she was reluctant to go in and it took 2 of us to herd her in - again usually just the sight of a sweetcorn can brings her running.
A neighbour had said that they had seen a fox around the night before so as a precaution I kept them in for the next couple of days.
It has been 2 days now since they have been allowed back out to roam but Popeye just wants to sit on her roosting perch. she appears well . eg comb nice and red and erect, eyes bright, no sign of mites etc but just doesn't want to move. She won't eat unless i physically bring the food and water up to her level. I suspect that she is eggbound - I have given her a warm bath and will isolate her this evening in a box with a hot water bottle. is there anything else I can do. These are my first chickens and I am worried that I disturbed her while she may have been laying her first egg and now she is unable to pass it because of it.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated
thanks, Haze