BeginnerChickener
In the Brooder
- Jun 12, 2021
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My 4 yo Hyline brown hen has started acting odd, she just stands still feathers buffed up. I don’t know what to check for ![Frown :( :(](/styles/byc-smilies/sad.png)
![Frown :( :(](/styles/byc-smilies/sad.png)
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That posture signals pain. The first thing that comes to mind is egg binding. Has this hen had any problems recently with egg shell quality? Thin shells or no shells?
When was the last time she laid? Has she spent time in the nest without laying an egg?
Check her crop. Sometimes a crop issue produces the behavior you're seeing. Feel her crop and see if it feels over-full and spongy like a water balloon. Or hard and lumpy with a bad odor.
It would help to place her in a crate in a quiet place and observe her closely. Place her on some old towels instead of shavings so you can easily see what her poop looks
I am working on the crate! I just came home and I noticed she has some white runny poo on her feathers. I haven’t noticed any odd behaviour from her this week but few weeks ago she went quiet for the first time, but next day she was normal again so I didn’t think too much of it since she was eating.That posture signals pain. The first thing that comes to mind is egg binding. Has this hen had any problems recently with egg shell quality? Thin shells or no shells?
When was the last time she laid? Has she spent time in the nest without laying an egg?
Check her crop. Sometimes a crop issue produces the behavior you're seeing. Feel her crop and see if it feels over-full and spongy like a water balloon. Or hard and lumpy with a bad odor.
It would help to place her in a crate in a quiet place and observe her closely. Place her on some old towels instead of shavings so you can easily see what her poop looks like. Post a photo of it. Poop can give us clues.