Blah Hen

[simplefancies]

I have a Araucana cross that I aquired last Wednesday night. She was supposedly given to the lady last spring as a chick. It's been pouring here in the northwest for days so I have't had an oppurtunity to watch any of the hens making much attempt at leaving the coop but did notice that she was more timid than all the others. Yesterday the rain let up for a bit and I had a chance to spend quite a bit of time observing. First thing in the morning all 4 girls leave the coop but it doesn't take long for the Araucana to return to the coop. I had 4 eggs yesterday so I know she's laying and her poop is quite normal looking. She's just so blah. Alert in the sense that she observes everything around her and talks with the other hens although her voice is much quieter than any of the others. She spends most of the day in the coop, sitting on a roost. I noticed a very very slight limp yesterday morning, picked her up and did not notice any sign of bumblefoot. When she is out roaming the yard with the other girls, she's not as quick as them. Is this normal with some hens? Should I remove her from the coop and put her in isolation? I'm worried that if I do so that then she'll become stressed and something bad really will happen. I've emailed the lady I got her from to inquire more about the birds history. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm all of 2 weeks new to hens.

 

[eastbaychicks]

Maybe she is in shock from the move? She could also just be a really shy gal. I have a Cochin that is very timid... she can hardly rip up spinach out of my hand and usually she is so slow, the other girls squeeze her out. I have to keep an eye on her crop and make sure she's getting food. I swear she is a pacifist. An though I'm super sweet to all my hens she still FREAKS out if I try to pet her. I mean all out screaming like a little girl. She's just shy.

Keep an eye on her vitals... poop and eggs are great indicators. Maybe get some electrolytes for their water and make sure she's eating.

All that being said, I'm new to this too so maybe someone else with more chicken wiz will pipe in.

 

[simplefancies]

Thanks. I heard back from the previous owner and she said that the little girl has always been slow. Supposedly a 4-H kiddo was hatching eggs and this little girl had an incident with the heat lamp and the boy said that her head was skinned. When the previous owner saw her, she had pitty on her and bought her. She says she often wonders if her brain was a little scrambled from the incident.

I was planning on sending some of my hens to a friends house in the fall when my chicks start laying but this little girl has won her official certificate of permanancy at my home. I can't imagine sending her else where. She's been out and about quite a bit today and I just took some strawberries out to the girls and this little one attacked it with vigor. I didn't ask about the limp but I'm wondering if she's always had it due to the heat lamp incident. She's been awarded the name Miss Molly

 

[eastbaychicks]

Very sweet name... glad she's a good eater too! She'll be fine.