What are the signs of an egg bound hen and what do i do if she is?

The hen will usually not be in the box anymore, probably on a perch or on the floor of the cage with signs of obvious straining. She may whip her tail from side to side in an effort to pass the egg. Breathing will be labored. She is in pain. Get her to a place of higher humidity, like the bathroom. Run the shower on hot with the door closed to fog it up good and keep her in there. The moisture and heat may help her to pass the egg. If no egg is passed within an hour get her to an avian vet ASAP. Hens have died from being egg-bound. Not only will the egg not come out, but nothing else will either so she will no longer be able to defacate.

 

I hope you don't have an eggbound hen? That would be scary. Let us know.

I totally agree with rainbow here. I had a hen who was eggbound, and in the end even though the egg was passed with help, she died as she had been trying to pass the egg for too long without assistance from a vet. They can' t last long under these curcumstances. If she appears to be eggbound vet care is urgent. Good luck.