Behavioral changes

[timelord1020]

So I wasnt sure where to post this but i have a 2 year old dominique chicken who has been acting strange lately. I got her when she was a year old so I dont know how she was raised but she would never let me touch or pick her up especially when she was going up for the night she would always peck at me if I got to close. Recently I've noticed that she has been laying around a lot with her feathers fluffed up and she let's me touch and hold I was even able to get her out of the coop tonight without her pecking me. She normally sleeps on top of the nesting boxes and pecks at the other girls if they get near her. Tonight she was in the nesting box instead of on top and was allowing the other chickens get near her. Is this typical behavior or signs she is ill? Thoughts and opinions are welcome

 

[townchicks]

Sounds like she is not feeling well. Why, I don't know, hopefully some of the more savvy folks on here can help.

 

[aart]

Was she, and is she still laying?

This is what I do when I have a hen that is acting 'off'.
Isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

You might also consider if she's suffering from heat stress....is she panting and holding her wings away from her body??
If so, a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes would be a good idea.

 

[timelord1020]

Was she, and is she still laying?

This is what I do when I have a hen that is acting 'off'.
Isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

You might also consider if she's suffering from heat stress....is she panting and holding her wings away from her body??
If so, a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes would be a good idea.

She hasn't laid in 2 days but her abdomen didn't feel hard I gave them some electrolytes and hoping that that will help

 

[Folly's place]

Look at all your birds at night, with a flashlight, to see if there are mites or lice. She's not feeling well, and parasites are easy to eliminate if found.
An internal problem is much more difficult, good luck.
Mary