I just got my chickens last week, so I'm not experienced with illnesses. The farmer who sold me the hens (all about 5 months old) offered to exchange one of them yesterday because I caught her eating her eggs twice. So the replacement hen I brought home yesterday is about a year old. She looks different than the others in that she's skinnier, missing some feathers on her wings (he says maybe it's starting to molt) and her back side is covered in poo. I thought perhaps she was just nervous from being caught and put in a box, which probably caused her to have the runs. However, this morning she would not come down from the roost and when I went out to check on her she was filthy. Way more mess all down her back side and it looks like she laid an egg on the roost which broke and got all over her feathers, especially in the front around her chest area. I carefully picked her up and put her out in the yard with the other chickens, and she seems to be moving around and eating okay.
I am pretty sure she laid an egg after I brought her here yesterday, because I found one under the tree and I haven't had any chickens lay outside of the nest yet. In fact, I think only two of them were laying to begin with - the one I exchanged and one other. Can someone tell me if it is normal for a chicken to stay up on the roost or is something wrong? Should I try to clean her?
She's a white hen, not sure what breed. I'll try to grab some photos, but it's raining right now.
I am pretty sure she laid an egg after I brought her here yesterday, because I found one under the tree and I haven't had any chickens lay outside of the nest yet. In fact, I think only two of them were laying to begin with - the one I exchanged and one other. Can someone tell me if it is normal for a chicken to stay up on the roost or is something wrong? Should I try to clean her?
She's a white hen, not sure what breed. I'll try to grab some photos, but it's raining right now.
