Has my Game Fowl lost her marbles?

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AussieSusan

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Jul 11, 2016
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I hope this hasn't been covered in another thread!....I have many Free Range Backyard Hens ranging from large Orpingtons to little Belgian Bantams. Including 2 Game Fowls. The problem started yesterday when one of the Game Fowls (who is timid to the max usually) started acting weird. Making strange noises like a deranged Seagull and wanting to attack the other Game Fowl. They have been best friends up until now. I had very little sleep overnight as after dark she kept making the weird Seagull noises until very late which also disturbed to other Hens. I now have her in the "Naughty Coop" separate from the rest but she hates it as used to being free range during the day. She is about 2 years old and never misbehaved before. My son says she is acting and sounding like she has lost her Marbles. I want to sleep tonight! Suggestions please! I don't think she lays eggs regularly but that has always been normal for her. She doesn't appear sick, I usually know how to deal with things that happen with Hens but this one has me stumped! Thanks in advance.
 
Welcome to BYC. Could she be broody or wanting to sit on eggs? I have occasionally had a hen who was very noisy for a couple of hours, but not one who made noise at night. Could something have been in the coop or outside making her scared?
 
Thankyou for your reply.....she is acting like something really traumatic has happened to her but we don't know what it could be. She was fine in the morning and when I came home from work my Son said she was acting and sounding very weird. Also what you call the ?penguin stance where she was standing more upright with her wings pointing down. Is this a defensive/aggressive posture?
I went out multiple times to where they sleep and they were secure and I saw nothing around. It seemed to have started during the daytime but she kept up with the noise well into the night. I can only think she could be going broody or something has scared her severely and she is now not the same girl at all. I will continue to keep her separated from the other girls and see how she goes tonight. A total change in a very short time. Perhaps a wild bird like a Crow or Kookaburra has frightened her..if we had a snake the others would be acting different but they are all normal....one can only speculate at this stage. She is very timid at the best of times. Poor sweetie....I want her to be herself again.
 
Wow she is getting worse, the other Game Fowl stuck her face through a small opening in the naughty coop and got her face pecked! I had to bathe her face with warm water to get the blood off. AAArrrrgh!
 
AussieSusan said:
Thankyou for your reply.....she is acting like something really traumatic has happened to her but we don't know what it could be. She was fine in the morning and when I came home from work my Son said she was acting and sounding very weird. Also what you call the ?penguin stance where she was standing more upright with her wings pointing down. Is this a defensive/aggressive posture?
I went out multiple times to where they sleep and they were secure and I saw nothing around. It seemed to have started during the daytime but she kept up with the noise well into the night. I can only think she could be going broody or something has scared her severely and she is now not the same girl at all. I will continue to keep her separated from the other girls and see how she goes tonight. A total change in a very short time. Perhaps a wild bird like a Crow or Kookaburra has frightened her..if we had a snake the others would be acting different but they are all normal....one can only speculate at this stage. She is very timid at the best of times. Poor sweetie....I want her to be herself again.

Quote: I know she isn't lethargic, but have you checked to see if she has an egg stuck?
Can you gently feel inside the vent (lubricate) about an inch. If you feel an egg, then lubricate, give her a soak in warm epsom salt bath, give her some extra calcium - you can crush a Tums and feed it to her. Put her in a warm area and see how she does. That much carrying on she is in some type of distress. Whether from broodiness or something else.

Here's a couple of links with photos and instructions for treatment. It's shot in the dark, but may help.

http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2012/06/egg-bound-hens-how-to-recognize-treat.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms.html
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for the suggestion. I wondered about checking her vent. I have never done it but it doesn't look difficult. I am a Nurse and don't get grossed out easily. I will try this, as it is worth checking. My Hens are my babies and seeing her so stressed is upsetting.
 
AussieSusan said:
Thank you for the suggestion. I wondered about checking her vent. I have never done it but it doesn't look difficult. I am a Nurse and don't get grossed out easily. I will try this, as it is worth checking. My Hens are my babies and seeing her so stressed is upsetting.
Click to expand...

It's really not that hard and with you being a nurse you will be great!
smile.png


It doesn't hurt to check just to make sure.
 
Hi! Well we are not out of the woods yet. I have now 2 game fowls who used to be friends now fighting at every chance. I have kept them separated for 4 days and still they hate each other and just want to Kung Fu kick each other. My God, hens fight dirty. If they don't start being friends again does that mean permanent separation? I'm still in the dark as to what started this feud but there may be no option now. At least the one who 'lost her marbles' with the weird noises is acting calm again, but I can't have them together anymore which is becoming a big pain for me. Suggestions welcome please.
 
Welcome to the game! Game fowl are fighters and it just clicks with them one day. Usually they work it out, but it may take a few days. Mine check pecking order occasionally and it ends up in a fight sometimes.
 
Well a bit of time has gone by and they did eventually become friends again. Una (the one who had me the most worried) is a naturally nervous bird but at least she is back with the rest of the flock. She has been broody of late but at least she hasn't had to be permanently separated. All a learning curve isn't it!!
 

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