spencerwood Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 We've had our two welsummers a year and they have not laid. But today, we've just come home from a day out and one of them is making a right racket and the other one is sitting in the eye laying area. We got all excited that finally this might be them coming into lay, but we've been home now for about an hour and its still not come out. We had only suspected a possible laying until she had a little walk around like Tina Turner and we can definately see that there is some activity in the region. We are just wondering how long it might take for the egg to come out? It could have been stuck the whole time we've been out or only just started happening. Can there be complications when laying the first egg, we had read that the first should be a small one but could be a bit traumatic nevertheless. We are a bit worried about going out there and disturbing so we are watching from inside, our faces pressed up against the rapidly steaming up windows Thanks Lizzy and Spencer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 They can take ages in a nestbox when they first come into lay. My girls have taken up to about an hour and a half to lay at some points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I think one of mine reads a paper whilst laying, and maybe has a pedicure too - she takes that long sometimes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerwood Posted March 14, 2010 Author Share Posted March 14, 2010 Ok - thanks for that, hopefully it will be out before bed time to avoid a princess and the pea type situation. Do they ever get stuck though, its still not out, shes walking around more now, perhaps shes given up? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Some of my girls spent time investigating and chilling in the nest box before they laid. Gosh, when I had one set of girls they would all go in and watch the layers whilst they were in, it was like a biology lesson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Have you had a look at her vent area? Can you see anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 My cochins take ages to lay...I think they fall asleep waiting. I'm talking hours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 All our chickens are very quick layers so we have no such trouble but some of our friends have chickens that take up to 2 hours1 It's normal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grracee Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 a couple of mine take ages to lay an egg, they will just sit in the boxes for most of the time talking to the others who are outside, then they will lay the egg and then sit there for a while again chatting away! so, i suppose the actual 'laying the egg' doesn't take long for mine it's just that they like to have a good old chatter and a rest at the same time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Well Spencerwood, has she laid then? I'm waiting with bated breath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzywood Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Hello all, Thanks so much for all your advice and info, it is much appreicated! So what's new? Well, we got up this morning expecting to find an egg and found nothing in the hen house ( She still seems fairly sqwarky and vocal (She's called Tom by the way and although she is a girl, we called her that for comedy value really - her sister is called Barbara!). Anyway, her tail feathers seem higher than usual and her vent is quite visible when she's bends to peck. It all looks clean, so I don't think she has anything a miss but as it's her first time I wonder if the moment has passed for now!? Fingers crossed something will happen today but I will keep you posted! Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 I think one of mine reads a paper whilst laying, and maybe has a pedicure too - she takes that long sometimes! Ours too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 She may have laid a soft egg & ate it up to hide the embarrassment. They seem to do that when they lay a softie. I'm sure an egg will be along soon. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanTheDiver Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 I think one of mine reads a paper whilst laying, and maybe has a pedicure too - she takes that long sometimes! Ours too I have two that take a newspaper in and are there for ages; I think they must take the times as it always takes a long time to read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerwood Posted March 15, 2010 Author Share Posted March 15, 2010 Hello, I've just been home to check on my ladies in my lunch hour and there is still no egg! Tom's no longer sitting but standing and wondered around like usual but it does look asthough her back end is moving a bit, almost as if she is having contractions - is this normal behavour? Barbara seems very clucky too (maybe she's worried coz she knows it'll be happening to her next) but she keeps checking Toms back end - is this also normal? I just hope she's ok!?! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 I should think she's fine - vents do move from time to time. And chickens are drawn to red, and vents are nearly red, so moving nearly-red must be quite an excitement if you're a hen.....! This is a bit like Lambing Live Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerwood Posted March 15, 2010 Author Share Posted March 15, 2010 Hi, Thanks muchly for info. ...however, I am now begining to worry she might be egg bound as it's been over 24hrs since this behavour kicked off. What if this behavour continues? At what point do you take a hen to the vets? I can't help being anxcious... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 OK, reassurance - usually if a hen is egg bound she will be subdued, tail down, moping so I don't think its that. It takes approx 25 hours to form and lay an egg but the vent inhaling/exhaling isn't necessarily a sign of an egg; it can be a poo delivery for a start! TBH I've never noticed how long it might take a first timer to actually lay, but as long as your girl seems chirpy/eating/drinking/pooing normally then I wouldn't worry. I'm sure the egg will come when its ready. I wouldn't be going to the vet until and unless the pullet started looking ill (puffed up and standing in the run is the most usual description) and/or stopping eating etc. I don't recommend you do this - your girl is behaving normally so far and doesn't need an internal investigation - but if necessary you should be able to gently put a lubricated/disposable gloved finger into her vent and feel any egg that was stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerwood Posted March 15, 2010 Author Share Posted March 15, 2010 Hi Daphne, Thanks so much for the post, I feel much calmer now. I just don't want anything bad to happen to her because I let it without knowing it, if you know what I mean! I'm at work at the moment but will be home just after 5, so I'll check on her then and will let you know. Fingers crossed all will be well! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Hi, I wouldn't worry, as its her first egg she might have a bit of trouble, she may come out of the nesting area, and walk around, then go back in and lay the following morning, she will be fine Three Pekin Hens, Ethel,Dierdre,Blanche Two Pekin x Silkie Hens, John & Edward Two Hybrid Hens, Betty & Rita Two Female Rabbits, Abbie & Lucy One Black Turkey Hen, Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzywood Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Hiya, Ok, I've been home for sometime now and have been sitting with them. She seems perky enough, I saw her eat and preen and twice I saw her stand asthough to poo and some white liquidy looking poo came out but it wasn't as much as usual. I've tried to take some snaps of her botty, poor love and will try and upload them shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzywood Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 (edited) Hi, I have some pictures now. This one is of the two of them, the one in question is on the left. The tail feature is a bit pointy but at times is even a bit more in the air than shown here but she does seem quite spritely - eating and pecking around with the other one: The second one is of the region. You can see a couple of feathers are a miss and the vent looks oval but pretty clean. Is this at all normal? Thanks Lizzy Edited March 16, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Perfectly lovely looking normal bott! Honestly, as you have absolutely no signs of anything amiss I wouldn't be worrying. She's nice and clean and they both look like lovely hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzywood Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Hi Daphne, Thanks so much for the reassurance, I really really do appreciate it because they're my ladies and I love them to bits!! They are good looking girls hey! Thanks xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Eeewwww - It's a lovely botty - but my dinner is no longer wanted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
