Single hen

[smithy36]

This evening, Tallulah (an 18 week Bluebelle who is yet to start laying) started to behave oddly. They were all out wrecking my garden... and then Tallulah started to slow down. She stood still for ages and move very infrequently. She tried to get behind a flower pot and spent about 20 mins hardly moving at all. Her back end was pulsing. She started to stagger a bit and had her eyess closed - i thought she was off to Chicken heaven! Eventaully she laid a soft shelled egg, along with a flattened shell of another soft shell egg. She seemed fine after.

 

I have 5 chickens and 2 have started laying - both lay in the nest box, have hard shelled eggs, and no issues. Is this normal - i know that there may be some issues to start - but why did she not go to the nest box? Do i need to do anything? should i be concerned?

 

I would really appreciate some advice..

 

Thanks all!

[chelsea]

I wouldnt be too concerned. Maybe because she is new to laying she didnt really know what was happening to her body and it took her by surprise and she couldnt get to the nest box in time.

 

Soft shelled eggs, odd shaped eggs & small eggs are normal to begin with.

 

Our new little girl Willow has just started laying and is still not going in the nest box, she lays in the dust bath

 

Their little manners and ways change when they start to lay aswell, Willow has gone from a very quiet subdued hen who sat around a lot - to a non stop scratching noisy girl who eats like crazy!

[smithy36]

Thanks for that.... I have been reading around more on the site - and it seems normal for them to struggle to lay soft shell eggs.

 

Cant bear the idea that she was in pain or frightened!

 

Poor baby, lets hop tomorrow is ok!

 

i love this site - there is always other people who has been through teh same with lots of good advice to offer. Its BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4Clucks-minusOne]

Bella my Bluebelle did exactally the same thing after laying for about 6 weeks. She went very quiet qnd stood stock still for well over 40 mins. She couldn't even be coaxed to move for her favourite food. She laid 2 soft shelled eggs once she had gone in to roost and when we checked on her later she was back to normal. The next day she was fine but didn't lay. Later that afternoon she went quiet again and laid another softie that evening. I think she has also laid two biggies (98g) which were double yolkers. I did wonder if this was upset her. She is a little star.

[smithy36]

thanks for clucks sake! I have been out to check her in bed and she is fine - cross at being disturbed!!

 

I will keep an eye on her