[parsleypig]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and to keeping hens.  One of our three hens, Betty, laid for the first time yesterday.  She was off her food all morning and looking very uncomfortable until she finally went in their house and laid her first egg. We were all very excited. She perked up a bit yesterday afternoon but today she seems sleepy and doesn't seem to be eating.  She was last out of the hen house this morning and won't come and feed from my hand as usual.  Is this sort of behaviour normal when they start to lay?  I hate to see her looking so out of sorts, I just want to give a hug  

[Vember]

Hi PP

Welcome the Hen House

Sometimes it can take the girls a bit to adjust to laying, think it might take them by suprise  

When I have had similar signs (sleepy, withdrawn etc...) with my girls it has been a sign that there is a soft shelled egg on the way.
These happen every so often maybe more so at the start of laying

The other thing that may be wrong is she's going to lay a large egg, does she seem to be trying to "push" ?


Sarah

[poultrygeist]

Hi parsleypig.

Welcome in.

One thing you can try is to pick her up and have a feel underneath between her vent and breastbone to see if there's any hard lumps which could be an egg inside. You need to be careful if there is one that you don't press so hard as to break it but it would tell if there's anything stuck.

Our hens sometimes go like this when they are about to lay a soft egg, as vember suggests. It can take a few hours before they lay it and return to normal. I hope that's all it is.

If you notice anything else that worries you, post up and we'll try to advise.

rob

[Aunt Sally]

Another thing to look out for in very a young laying hen (and very a old one) is a swollen abdomen (same place as Rod described).  The hen will be sitting around fluffed up, head pulled in and eyes closed for most of the day.  She will walk about slowly with a bit of a waddle and be off her feed.

If any of this rings a bell parsleypig I'll give a fuller explanation.

[Aunt Sally]

I forgot to ask if she is feeling warm under her wing when compared to another hen.  If she is shem may have an infection requiring antibiotics from your vet.

Let us know how she gets on and we'll keep our fingers crossed !

[parsleypig]

Hi,

Thank you all for your kind welcome and advice.

I sat with them for a few minutes this afternoon and Betty has perked up a bit.  She still isn't back to her old self and won't come to eat grain from my hand but she was pecking around and had a little mash from the feeder.

I think I will see how she is tomorrow before I pick her up for an examination.  I guess she may just have found the whole egg laing experience rather traumatic, and who wouldn't!

[Aunt Sally]

Sounds a little hopeful.  Please let us know how she is tomorrow after you examine her