Chicken behaving strangely!

[Dwerker]

Hi - one of my chickens has stopped laying and seems to be separating herself from the others. She looks depressed! She is the top of the pecking order and laid enormous eggs before her behaviour changed. I have seen her eating and drinking etc. and will dust bath with the second in command but is sitting around a lot more and looks miserable. I tried to catch her to have a look but she hates being handled and I'm worried I've made her even more anxious. She is a hybrid - about 2 years old. Could she just have come to the end of her egg laying? I have 6 chickens in total. Any ideas would be welcome - thanks! x

 

[boskelli1571]

Hi there, tonight when she's on her perch, pick her up and give her a good check over. She could be egg bound from your description of her behaviour. It is not uncommon in chickens that lay large eggs. Tuck her under your arm, tipping her slightly head down and check the vent area. Any discharge? anything there that shouldn't be? carefully insert 1 lubed finger and check for a broken shell or such. If all is well, keep an eye on her and see what happens. Please keep us posted,

 

[Dwerker]

Thanks for your reply - will check this evening. I've noticed quite a few of her feathers in the coop this morning. I just want her to be a happy chicken again! xx