Is my hen sick?

Kneedles

Songster
7 Years
Jul 22, 2014
256
111
206
Wellington, New Zealand
I own one small hen that is under a year old and started laying a while ago. Until recently, she was a very active and lively bird, and would even wander onto the property of the neighbours a few times. However, after getting back from a short holiday elsewhere, I have found that she is acting unusually. Since I got back, she has never moved from the part of her coop that she lays eggs in, and this is concerning. I doubt that she is laying the entire time, because I have found that she only lays one egg per day so far. I have given her water through an eye-dropper twice, as I am worried about her becoming dehydrated, despite the fact that doing so is apparently dangerous to her. She does have a drinking station in her coop, but I highly doubt that she has drank from it since I got back.
Is there anything that I can do about this?
 
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What breed is she? Check her over well for mites or lice. I'd also take her out of the coop and as far away as I could and see what she does. If you notice her puffing up and clucking, there is a good chance she's just broody.
 
What breed is she? Check her over well for mites or lice. I'd also take her out of the coop and as far away as I could and see what she does. If you notice her puffing up and clucking, there is a good chance she's just broody.

Actually, just now I went outside and was surprised to see her walk out of her nesting spot. I opened the coop, and she is now out and as active as ever. Thank you for your time.
 
There are several nice articles on broody hens in the Learning Center you might like https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-and-raising-chicks Broodys will get off the nest usually once or twice a day, sometimes for half an hour or more, one good sign that they are really broody is if they will start sleeping on the nest overnight. Once they are really broody they will also stop laying eggs.
 
Yep, definitely sounds like she is wanting to be a mommy.

Mine did the same thing. Do some research on broody hens and you will see!!
 

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