Is my hen egg bound ?

[Capto Veritas]

I have a Black Australorp hen, and she started laying about 2 months ago. She only lay for about 15 days, and then stopped. It has been about 1.5 months now. She is eating/drinking and walking around fine, but I am a little concerned. What should I do?

 

[azygous]

Laying lets up at this time of year due to shortening days.

If a hen becomes egg bound, she is miserable. She's often in the nest trying to push out the egg. Or she may be in the run standing still, facing a wall, fluffed up. She behaves the opposite of when she's feeling well. You would probably notice.

 

[Capto Veritas]

Laying lets up at this time of year due to shortening days.

If a hen becomes egg bound, she is miserable. She's often in the nest trying to push out the egg. Or she may be in the run standing still, facing a wall, fluffed up. She behaves the opposite of when she's feeling well. You would probably notice.

Actually, she has been standing in the sun standing there fluffed up for about 30 mins.

 

[Capto Veritas]

 

[Capto Veritas]

She has moved since then though…

 

[azygous]

Look at her eyes. Bright and alert.

Look at her tail. Held high and proud.

Watch her move. I bet she move smartly and quickly.

All signs of a well hen.

A sick hen has droopy, dull eyes.

A sick hen has a tail held low and flat.

A sick hen is hunched with feathers fluffed out.

A sick hen is slow to respond to stimulus. Sluggish and disinterested in her surroundings.

 

[Capto Veritas]

So is she not laying because she is cold?

 

[Capto Veritas]

Should I put a tarp/hay bails around the coop to keep her warm?

 

[aart]

So is she not laying because she is cold?

Should I put a tarp/hay bails around the coop to keep her warm?

No and No.
It's not about temperature, it's about the length of day, which stimulates the hormones that are needed to lay eggs.

 

[Capto Veritas]

Okay, thank you!