If the hens are not in their coop, it is more dramatic. She will pace back and forth, looking anxiously toward the house waiting for someone to let her in. Then when I open the door she will traipse up the ramp and hunker down in a nesting box. If by chance the twins open the back door while a hen is laying the howls of indignation can be heard down the block. 

If we happen to be in another part of the yard, and the coop feels far away, the hen that needs to lay may suddenly look like a three year old boy who has waited too long to find a bathroom. Occasionally the little orb will drop right there on the ground, to everyone's surprise, including the chicken's. 

Chickens need to lay. They seem very relieved when it is over, and they can go back to finding bugs. The egg probably puts pressure on their pelvic floor, that is if poultry have pelvic floors. 

Women need to talk. It is a physiological condition, and the words grow like an egg inside of her, waiting for a chance to come out. If she waits too long, or can't find a safe place to say her piece, it can come out in awkward ways, like right in the middle of a meeting with the boss. 

One time I was caring for five children in addition to my own. That made a total of a dozen and the pressure of feeding, washing and changing diapers began to build up. I remember going to the grocery store, and as I stood at the check out line I plopped my feelings right there in the poor attendant's lap. 

"I am taking care of twelve children, and it is overwhelming. You think this is a lot of food to buy? I was here yesterday. They scarf it down as fast as I can cook it." His eyes got big as he bagged my boxes and apples. I think he would have given them to me for free just to get me to stop talking. 

One of the difficulties for men listening to their wives is when the boundaries are nebulous. It can help to have a routine, like three ten minute episodes a week. If it is clear that all he has to do is listen, he may be more willing than if she expects him to divulge his feelings too. It can be simple, like five questions.

What makes you disappointed? 

What are you concerned about? 

What do you need?

What are you looking forward to?

What do you appreciate?

The last one is the golden ticket. Hopefully she will use it to express her appreciation of her husband who has just given up ten minutes of screen time to do something dangerous like talk with her. Thanking him is a good way to sweeten the deal and makes it more likely that he will sign up to do it again.