Older Hen may be ill..... Ideas, Advice?

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Well, I think she may be broody afterall, but she doesn't have any eggs, and she isn't interested in food either! She is alert though, and isn't ill acting. I just don't know what is going on. I was held last night so couldn't get home to her to follow up until late last night. She is drinking water thank goodness!

Happily sitting in that little cage, doesn't want to come out.
 
FaerieChicken said:
Well, I think she may be broody afterall, but she doesn't have any eggs, and she isn't interested in food either! She is alert though, and isn't ill acting. I just don't know what is going on. I was held last night so couldn't get home to her to follow up until late last night. She is drinking water thank goodness!

Happily sitting in that little cage, doesn't want to come out.
Click to expand...

If you are confident she is broody and you do not plan to put eggs under her, its best to break her broodiness (for her health and for you). The most commonly accepted method is to put her in a wire cage, suspended above the ground for a few days (I usually do it for 4 days). The idea is that being suspended lets cool air under her, and this seems to break the broodiness. There are lots of threads on the topic, so feel free and chose your own method.

Good luck
CT
 
Good tip! I don't mind her being broody, but I'm second guessing myself again!
I don't think she is broody or sick! Now I'm starting to think she is just chicken! I checked for egg bound, I have been giving her the electrolytes in water and offered her pellets and scratch, she seems to be eating just fine!

I put her outside for a bit the other day and she was out scratching and pecking with the other girls and even let one of the roosters mate her. But shortly after that she went back into the nesting house and perched on the side of a nest box! I think she is hiding from the roosters as she had been tuning away from the others! I brought her back inside last night because she doesn't come out of the nesting house to eat or drink! I don't think she is broody, or she would be sitting on the eggs, right?
 
Its a bit of a mystery to me - a pity that other members cannot share their experience. Maybe she's just lost the plot a bit? Maybe just block the nests off at night time and see how she does? Just a stab in the dark to be honest!

Good luck

CT
 
UPDATE

She is fine, she is out with the others now, just as happy as can be, maybe she was just a bit under the weather and tired of the Boys chasing her down. LOL she is happy again out with the flock, although I enjoyed her company while in our home.
 
FaerieChicken said:
UPDATE

She is fine, she is out with the others now, just as happy as can be, maybe she was just a bit under the weather and tired of the Boys chasing her down. LOL she is happy again out with the flock, although I enjoyed her company while in our home.
Click to expand...

Cool!
 

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