A couple of questions re eggbound hen.

[di]

Well,our time has come to have an eggbound girl
We have brought her home as warm baths at the lottie are a little tricky...also the weather turned a bit so I didn't want her catching a chill either.
Anyway...she had a warm bath at about 9pm....if it's going to work roughly how long should it be til she lays?
Also,she's in a large cardboard box with hemcore and I was expecting her to sleep sitting down but she's still all hunched up with her tail down...tricky to know if she's sleeping as I may be waking her up each time I check

Before the bath I could feel what I assume was an egg near her vent...now it feels really hard around her tail...up a bit.Is this normal?

[Nicos]

yikes!....fingers crossed you wake up and find one egg, and a hungry hen

[di]

No egg...just a rather cross hen that doesn't like being in a box...it's a big one so she does have some room
Why did it have to be one of the Legbars....they're the only ones in our flock that hate being handled.She was fairly calm last night but I think that's because she felt so crap...she's woken up a feisty old mare and almost had my hand off when I put a bowl of water in for her...which she's now knocked over so I'm gonna have to go in again

She's not let me feel her tail end this morning but it looks a bit distorted,would I be best keeping her here until she's laid...or maybe she's now put off by the fact it's unfamiliar surroundings?

[Suechooks]

I'd give her another warm bath. Most of mine who've had them stuck have been ex-batts doing "softies" but occasionally its one with a shell and has taken a couple of baths to get it going. Maybe get some gauntlets!!

[Glutton4...]

Yup - invest in a pair of Welder's Gauntlets! I borrow Mr. G's when I have to handle anything stroppy (like my sin-binned Broody).

[di]

Glutton...you're quite close...fancy popping round for a cuppa?
I've just spent a while trying to calm her stroking her(with thick heavy duty gardening gloves)...I just know that as soon as I lift the lid totally off she's gonna make a bid for freedom...one more cuppa and I'll be brave and get her into the bathroom.

[di]

Oooh...she's now sat down...for the first time since being in the box last night.....fingers crossed.

[Glutton4...]

Just had a Cuppa, Ta, and I have an appointment this afternoon, in t'other direction!

How's it going....?

[di]

She's done it!!!
Now to work out how to get her to the lottie without wheels
Think she may have to stay in the box until Andi gets home.She has settled in it a bit so I don't feel quite so bad as I did earlier this morning.

[Nicos]

Awww...bless- and well done you!!!

was it just a normal egg?

[Suechooks]

Phew! That's a relief!

[Glutton4...]

Oh well done that Chooky! Hope she's feeling better now.

[di]

Cheers for your support...it wasn't any bigger than normal,I'm hoping she's not got a backlog...although she wasn't hunched up anymore and her tail was up her posture just didn't look quite right.Her wings kind of stick out a little...but maybe that's because she felt nervous going back in with the others?
I'll keep an eye on her over the next few days and we'll put in a third nestbox.One of our Orp's keeps going broody and is particularly spiteful if the Legbars try to lay where she is.
Thanks again...it was a relief but I'm not 100% sure we're out of the woods yet. x

[jessmorris]

Good luck!

[di]

Thanks Jess...hope your Little one's OK too x