Broody pekin?

[blank28]

Hi everyone. One of our two Pekin Bantams called Honey has suddenly decided she’s not leaving the coop this morning. She laid a paper-shell egg overnight and is just sitting in the nesting box today making this screeching noise. she’s doing it an awful lot. She’s usually the first one out in the morning and straight to the feeder/foraging so this is quite unlike her.

 

[Mckennas poultry]

sounds to me like she’s broody

Have a read at this, it might help you
https://timbercreekfarmer.com/10-signs-you-have-a-broody-hen/

 

[blank28]

Thanks I’ll give that a read! She’s drinking an awful lot whenever I take her out too. Not interested in food but drinking like mad

 

[aart]

Hi everyone. One of our two Pekin Bantams called Honey has suddenly decided she’s not leaving the coop this morning. She laid a paper-shell egg overnight and is just sitting in the nesting box today making this screeching noise. she’s doing it an awful lot. She’s usually the first one out in the morning and straight to the feeder/foraging so this is quite unlike her.

Thanks I’ll give that a read! She’s drinking an awful lot whenever I take her out too. Not interested in food but drinking like mad

The thin shell, isolation, not eating but drinking a lot of water are signs of a problem. I would examine her vent and belly closely.
How old is she?
If she doesn't snap out of it within a day or two:
I'd 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 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.

 

[blank28]

The thin shell, isolation, not eating but drinking a lot of water are signs of a problem. I would examine her vent and belly closely.
How old is she?
If she doesn't snap out of it within a day or two:
I'd 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 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.

Hi Aart, We don’t think she’s an old bird - she was at advertised as point-of-lay when we had her about 4 weeks ago and laid regularly from day 1. I saw her poop earlier today whilst she was out and it was a white, creamy mush - perhaps that’s because she hasn’t eaten anything today? Her crop felt quite squishy when I checked it just now but she had just spent about 10 mins at the drinker. In fact some of the water came out of her mouth as I was massaging her crop.

 

[aart]

Hi Aart, We don’t think she’s an old bird - she was at advertised as point-of-lay when we had her about 4 weeks ago and laid regularly from day 1. I saw her poop earlier today whilst she was out and it was a white, creamy mush - perhaps that’s because she hasn’t eaten anything today? Her crop felt quite squishy when I checked it just now but she had just spent about 10 mins at the drinker. In fact some of the water came out of her mouth as I was massaging her crop.

So you've only had her for a month?
What and how exactly are you feeding?

 

[blank28]

So you've only had her for a month?
What and how exactly are you feeding?

Correct, we took on two bantams and they have their own coop and pen..our original legbars we’re getting a bit too rough with them for our liking. She’s on layers pellets (Fancy Layers is the brand). They’re fed in a normal small feeder, I keep the thing full throughout the day so they can have what they want to eat.

 

[blank28]

Good news, she’s been back to normal today, having a forage and dustbath etc. Maybe she just had a bum day..I’ll check her crop in the morning to check it’s emptying ok.