[chloesgrandad]

One of my hens, a Light Sussex, appears to be egg bound. I am just assuming this as I am quite a newcomer to keeping hens. The symptoms are, she's off her food, listless, and  sitting in the nest box all day. This all started on Monday so Im' starting to get a bit concerned. Has anyone got any ideas, thanks.

[CameronS]

dose she make a growling, croaky noise when you go to touch her? and what colour are her wattles?
She may be broody not egg bound.

I could not accurately tell you the symptoms of being egg bound but i would hazard a guess that you would find a large lump around her egg duct indicating the egg is stuck

[Fleecewife]

When you say she is listless, do you mean droopy and sad looking or just sitting quietly? If when she sits in the nest she is not laying, has her wings spread as if to cover eggs, and when you go to move her she raises her neck ruff to see you off, making the noises Cameron described, then she is broody - it's the time of year for it.  If she is egg bound - well, I'm not sure but I think she would be in discomfort, squatting and with a heavy lower abdomen, sometimes with a mucky vent area. Soemone else will come along and tell you how to treat her if she is egg bound.

[chloesgrandad]

Thanks' Cameron and Fleecewife, she does'nt make any growling noises and there is'nt a lump at her vent, but her wattle is a lot paler than it usually is. Ihave tried the Vaseline treatment and nothing has happened so I'm hoping that she is just broody.