4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[jennifer+simon]

We have been waiting such a long time for little sugarblosoom to pop one out, we are like the most proud parents. she developed her comb (we noticed on tuesday) and this morning all the hens popped out at 630 am and sugarblossom has been sitting on a mound in the middle of the run ecer since..... will today be the day?

 

She has been sitting, but everytime she trys to stand up she falls over a couple of seconds later, she looks. like she is straining. very quiet..... im worried something isnt right? please reassure me

[Redwing]

I can't really help but someone will be along soon that can, I am sure they will ask how old the hen is and how long the straining/falling over has been going on for so having that info will be handy

 

Does she seem ok in all other respects, when she falls over is it lack of balance and she quickly rights herself or does she seem ill/close her eyes/puff up and seem distressed at falling over?

[jennifer+simon]

its only this morning i think she is aobut 20 weeks, just about to lay, has had yellow poos..... ive been told that may be undeveloped yolks.

this morning she came flying out of the coop... she ste a bit then started stitting.... its only been this morning.

i know it sounds silly. but could an egg be stuck, when she does stand her bottom aims for the ground, (not goot at expaining things) she had a little poo with a spot of blood in it..... so worried,i dont drive and my partner is at work, ill take her to the vet on the bus if i have too but i dont want to upset her......

am i over reacting?!

[Redwing]

She does sound like she is straining, I have a Pekin who 'aims' for the ground' pants and screams for a bit before she lays an egg, It was a shock when I first saw that.

 

Thinking back I thnk my first hens did take a while to lay their first egg, hours in some cases

 

First eggs can often be 'softies' which are an egg with no shell and they do make a hen very uncomfortable while she is trying to lay them, the hen perks up straight afterwards though

 

I have never heard of yellow poo being a sign of readiness to lay, if they were yellow poos that is fine but if you saw any yolk on the ground that is not normal

 

I would leave her to it for now if everything else seems ok

 

If there is an egg stuck you can hold the hen over a basin of hot water, gentle (not boiling) steam will relax the muscles of the vent and the egg may well pop out but I would let nature take its course for now and only intervene if you really suspect a problem

 

Being a hen mum is worrying isnt it?

[sjp]

is she crouching yet the red comb isn't always a sign big red had been laying nearly 3 months before hers went red she was 23 weeks before she started

if the yellow poo were foamy thats aright you get 3 or 4 aday

[jennifer+simon]

i know isnt just, im just worried about her... ive got to leave for work at 12 so hopefully she would have achieved something by then!

[jennifer+simon]

poos are foamy. ive looked at her vent and there is nothing there, she is still sitting!

[jennifer+simon]

poos are foamy. ive looked at her vent and there is nothing there, she is still sitting!

[Egluntyne]

I think she needs to be sen by a vet. The falling over sounds rather worrying and is rather unusual.

[jennifer+simon]

i was going to take her to the vet but...... SHE LAID HER FIRST EGG!!!!!! it was small but it was an egg!!! bless her! no harm done, she is as happy as ever and now actually quite sociable! a new woman!!! ALL IS WELL!

[Chickvic]

Glad she finally laid and is much better

[chick wiggle]

I was following this with my heart in my mouth, now, oh what a relief! So glad all is well.

Well done sugarblossom