Non layer in nesting box and being picked on

[Samanternat]

Hi all!

Still trying to figure out what is going on in my flock, and with one hen in particular. Here is the breakdown…

I have a flock of 4 (2 hatch-mate pairs that stick together) that have been living peacefully together for almost 9 months:
11 mo. Rooster - Winnie
11 mo. Hen, non laying - Happy Feet
10 mo. Hen, laying - Maple
10 mo. Hen, laying - Raincloud

This week, spring weather is finally here to stay, and there has been a huge shift in my flock. I noticed some odd stand-offs between the hens which seemed to come immediately after one girl (Raincloud) didn’t make it in for the night before the coop door closed due to the longer daylight hours. I assumed this stressed the flock out. I didn’t pay much attention to it and just made sure that didn’t happen again by adjusting the door closing time.

The following few days I notice Happy Feet in the coop a lot. This is not typical. She’s a late bloomer (Brahma EE mix) so I expected that she will finally lay with the season change! However, it has now been several days and she has not laid. Is it normal for her to spend this much time in the coop/nesting boxes without laying her first egg?

In the meantime, I notice Maple and Raincloud are now BOTH bullying Happy Feet. Very unusual dynamic (Happy Feet was always on top). We’ve always known that Maple has the most dominant personality, but she was always lower ranked due to her younger age and size, and the fact that Winnie (rooster) is paired up with Happy Feet. The bullying is fairly vicious from Maple right now and Happy Feet is clearly scared of her for the first time ever. Winnie, the rooster, is a neutral party and would go back and forth between visiting Happy Feet and hanging in the run with the other two. I wish he’d actually break it up though.

I’ve taken Happy Feet inside on two occasions to eat, drink, bathe, and relax. This hasn’t changed anything when she goes back out. *I’ve also been inspecting her for signs of illness, and the only thing I can come up with is that she feels more fat in the abdomen than the others, who are smaller breeds anyway. No other symptoms.

I have Maple inside today. She’s being treated very well despite how frustrated I am with her, lol. At first, Happy Feet started finally going out in the run right away like normal… dust bathing, pecking, etc. with the other two. However, hours later with Maple still absent, and Happy Feet is back chilling in the coop again!!! Winnie is spending time with her in there.

What is going on? I need peace restored, and to know my chickens will be alright!

 

[azygous]

Happy Feet may be close to laying. Check her pelvic bones on each side of her vent to see if you can fit two fingers between them. If you can, and her vent is moist and pulsating, she's close to laying.

It's possible she's having some trouble. This can cause the bird to be vulnerable, and the others pick up on this and it can result in them pestering her. You probably should take steps to give her access to the nest but block the others from getting in there with her.

You may also give her a calcium tablet to encourage contractions to help her move her first egg. Calcium citrate with D3 is best for this purpose, but a Tums or two will work, though more slowly.

 

[Samanternat]

Happy Feet may be close to laying. Check her pelvic bones on each side of her vent to see if you can fit two fingers between them. If you can, and her vent is moist and pulsating, she's close to laying.

It's possible she's having some trouble. This can cause the bird to be vulnerable, and the others pick up on this and it can result in them pestering her. You probably should take steps to give her access to the nest but block the others from getting in there with her.

You may also give her a calcium tablet to encourage contractions to help her move her first egg. Calcium citrate with D3 is best for this purpose, but a Tums or two will work, though more slowly.

Appreciate you taking the time to read and respond!!!

Pelvic bones I’ve checked and they are about 3 fingers wide (wider than one of my other layers actually when I compared), her vent seems the right shape and does pulsate.

I suppose I could close her in the coop during the day with food and water but I was hesitant to take away her run access.

I’ll try Tums today since shops are closed, she also has access to oyster shells, but I can go on a hunt for those vitamins tomorrow!

 

[azygous]

Give her the Tums right away. It may be all she needs to get that egg over the line. After that, she will then feel terrific and successful, and the others will also be impressed with her significant achievement and stop picking on her.

 

[Samanternat]

Give her the Tums right away. It may be all she needs to get that egg over the line. After that, she will then feel terrific and successful, and the others will also be impressed with her significant achievement and stop picking on her.

Ok wonderful. I crushed 2 Tums up and mixed in some D3 from a gel capsule I had… hope that’s fine. I brought it out to her and encouraged her to have it, and closed the coop door so the others wouldn’t eat it. She wasn’t going for it much while I was there but I hope she will… hard to force it.

 

[azygous]

Chickens won't gobble pills on their own. We need to pry open their beaks and shove the pill in. In case you aren't familiar with chicken anatomy, they don't possess teeth because they simply don't need them as we do. Since they have an open chute to the crop that's always wide open, the pill slides right down. It's crucial you get at least 360mg of calcium into the pullet so it will produce contractions.

 

[Samanternat]

Chickens won't gobble pills on their own. We need to pry open their beaks and shove the pill in. In case you aren't familiar with chicken anatomy, they don't possess teeth because they simply don't need them as we do. Since they have an open chute to the crop that's always wide open, the pill slides right down. It's crucial you get at least 360mg of calcium into the pullet so it will produce contractions.

Didn’t realize this! Definitely not familiar enough so it’s good to know I wouldn’t choke her or something by doing that. Thank you.