Sick? Or laying first egg - new chicken owner

[Chookiemom]

My splash amerecauna pullet is coming up on 26 weeks. I found lice on her the other day (thought it was mites but figured out it was lice) and treated entire flock and coop with permethrin.

Anyway.. this morning she did not leave the coop. She is laying in a nesting box sitting, closing her eyes a lot and has labored breathing. Usually these past few days she walks around very heavy-like when she is out in the coop mostly squat walking/laying down.

She has been in there for 2 hours and I am concerned because she has not drank or eaten all morning.

I have uploaded videos for reference.

Is this typical behavior or is there something I should do?

Thanks !

 

[Weeg]

Look at her vent, is there any discharge or similar coming from it? Usually egg laying shouldn't be so stressful. I also notice her tail is down. Is her vent pulsating as if she is trying to lay an egg? If you see that, and no discharge, you can take a gloved finger and stick it up her vent about 1-2" to feel for a stuck egg. If you feel one, then she might be egg bound.
Either way, I would try to get some calcium in her ASAP. Do you have calcium citrate? That is the very best calcium for laying issues. Its absorbed the quickest. If not, than you can use a Tums. Take an entire pill of either and stuff it down her beak. Simply squeeze the corners of her beak for her to open. Once she does, pop it in her mouth and it will go down like candy.

 

[Weeg]

Also, I couldn't help but notice in the first photo. Is there something wrong with the bottom half of her beak? It almost looks like it's gone? Probably just the angle of the video, but I have to ask.

 

[Chookiemom]

Got it..

I do not notice discharge from the vent. Ive attached a picture of it. It seems like it is pulsating to me? Her tail moves with her breathing. I should add she mostly kept her tail down since i got her and is at the bottom of the pecking order.

Her beak is there may just be the angle.

They have layer feed with calcium but also have oyster shell all the time. I tried feeling if there was anything hard in the area but i did not notice that. We do have Tums so will administer if that is necessary. I see nits in this pic.

 

[Weeg]

If she's not noticeably straining, and her tail is normally down, than it might not be a reproductive issue. When was the last time you applied Permethrin? You need to reapply every week until you no longer see lice.
@azygous @Wyorp Rock

 

[Chookiemom]

I treated her 2 days ago. I would retreat again now of it was safe to do so but everywhere says to wait 7 days.

Should I take her to a vet?

 

[azygous]

When a hen is normally relaxing in a nest box to lay her egg, her tail is normally in an upright position. That her tail is down may indicate she's in pain and distress. If she were mine, I would assume an egg laying issue, and pop a calcium citrate pill into her beak. This is what I use.

This works on several levels. Immediately, it will supply the hen with a boost to her contractions, giving her an assist to lay the egg. It can also reset her ovulation cycle to regulate how many yolks get released in a cycle. It's more common than most think that two eggs will get launched down the oviduct and when it hits the shell gland, there may not be enough calcium for two egg shells. Then you can get egg binding.

Not to use calcium right now risks getting a dead hen. It's far more important than worrying about lice or mites.

 

[Chookiemom]

I just broke up a tablet of tums and placed it into her mouth.

 

[Chookiemom]

Also i put some water next to her and she drank.

 

[Chookiemom]

I do not see any improvement so I will call a vet and see what they say. Thanks everyone for your quick input and suggestions.