Chicken keeps laying down and panting

[cutiepie960]

Thank u junebuggena,
As we speak my poor heather is still laying 1 egg a daily she's feral & unfortunately found shelter under a tin roof in the scorching hot sun with little shade... I don't have a nest box for her coz she just wandered into our yard she takes about 45 minute just to lay 1 egg daily & starts to pant...I provide fresh water for her but i don't see her drinking maybe she does when i'm not looking but poor girl stresses out just to lay 1 egg everyday!! I hope she'll be ok!!

 

[abraga]

Hello,
Thank u very much for the reply Ok thats what i thought it seems like she will continue to lay there, my heather seems fine she dustbathed a 1/2 hour after laying she's eating, drinking, moving out & about with my roo henry but i noticed around 6:00 p.m last night it started too cool down a bit but still warm she pooped watery with some brown & white goo mixed in & started to pant but as the night wore on she flew up in the tree to roost & this a.m. she is moving along fine with the roo... Also i noticed that while she was dust bathing & flopping her wings i noticed some missing feathers with skin & what looks like some pin feathers attached... Not sure if she is molting i know my roo henry is molting coz he lost all of his tail feathers but are now starting to grow back.. I read that hens stop laying if they are molting so i'm really confused as i am a first time beginner with hens & roosters... Btw i just have 1 roo & 1 hen like i said she is feral whom she adopted me as her caretaker so i don't really know much about her at all... I don't know her breed, her age, but i'm assuming she's quite young and just started laying 8 days ago...She's a small hen so far she has laid 8 beautiful light brown eggs 2 of the 8 a tiny bit mishapen but u can't tell if it is a little mishapen you'll have to really look good to tell if it is....They both free range all day at night my roo roosts in his coop & heather roosts in the tree....Here in Hawaii we have no predators just cats which occasionally chases her but its really nothing at all.... B/c she is feral she is easily spooked & makes a bee line if i get close to her...Today will be another HOT & HUMID 84 degrees & i'm scared for heather as she continues to lay but i will make sure she gets access to fresh cold water after she lays! Thanks again for responding!

Mayb u could make her some sort of shade screen to keep direct sun off. Just staple wood or cardboard to a stake and put it in the ground or cut a cardboard box and make a tent?

 

[Leighe]

Thank u junebuggena,
As we speak my poor heather is still laying 1 egg a daily she's feral & unfortunately found shelter under a tin roof in the scorching hot sun with little shade... I don't have a nest box for her coz she just wandered into our yard she takes about 45 minute just to lay 1 egg daily & starts to pant...I provide fresh water for her but i don't see her drinking maybe she does when i'm not looking but poor girl stresses out just to lay 1 egg everyday!! I hope she'll be ok!!

Being feral, she may/may not become friendlier. Treats (watermelon, mealworms) may help for her to become more trusting. Also she may never use a nesting box because they don't have them in the wild.....and ya'll have a LOT of feral chickens in your state, lol. One of the things I love about Hawaii. Love that you are trying to help her out. If you continue providing food, treats, cold water there's a good chance she will stick around rather then goin back out and havin to take care of herself. If she is sick, for some reason, you will probably see a downgrade over the next few days, though I would think after this amount of time you would have seen something. The fact that she is laying an egg everyday is a good sign. Good job @cutiepie960!

 

[cutiepie960]

Being feral, she may/may not become friendlier. Treats (watermelon, mealworms) may help for her to become more trusting. Also she may never use a nesting box because they don't have them in the wild.....and ya'll have a LOT of feral chickens in your state, lol. One of the things I love about Hawaii. Love that you are trying to help her out. If you continue providing food, treats, cold water there's a good chance she will stick around rather then goin back out and havin to take care of herself. If she is sick, for some reason, you will probably see a downgrade over the next few days, though I would think after this amount of time you would have seen something. The fact that she is laying an egg everyday is a good sign. Good job @cutiepie960!

Thank u so much Everyone for all the kind responses!,I am doing everything in my power to help this little hen as she was literally a throw away Yes Leigh there are lots & lots of feral chickens here & since i am such an animal lover & henry was a lonely roo i figured i couldn't let this hen down & completely ignore her but i am all to new at this & yall been really helpful with all the info. I will try to feed her some fresh fruit & lots of ice cold water! Thanks a bunch!!

 

[cutiepie960]

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Those eggs are lovely

 

[cutiepie960]

View attachment 1097147

To Everyone who has replied & helping out alot here is Heather's beautiful eggs!!! 8 of them so far! Lol nice brown eggs!! But my family & i are scared to eat them as she is feral i'm wondering if they are safe to eat......Lol Ok ok maybe i'll try 1 Thanks Again everyone!! Luv Yall....

 

[Leighe]

To Everyone who has replied & helping out alot here is Heather's beautiful eggs!!! 8 of them so far! Lol nice brown eggs!! But my family & i are scared to eat them as she is feral i'm wondering if they are safe to eat......Lol Ok ok maybe i'll try 1 Thanks Again everyone!! Luv Yall....

Absolutely no problem eating them....unless they don't look like an egg inside, lol

 

[cutiepie960]

Hello Everyone
My feral hen name Heather has laid 1 egg e eryday i have collected every single one of them since she's laid she's been consistent except for 2 day NO EGG! She went into her nesting area like she always does & takes about 3 to 4 hrs it was never this long after she came out of her nesting area i usually pick up her egg as i don't want any CHICKS!!! & she goes about her business foraging for bugs & worms etc etc.... It is Aug here & very very HOT Not sure what is going on with her as i am fairly new at raising a girl hen/ chickens... Perhaps someone can explain the missing egg 2 day....Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[cutiepie960]

Hello Everyone,
My feral hen heather has laid 1 egg everyday & i have collected every single one of them as i do not want any baby chicks! However with that being said heather goes into her nesting area like she always does & lays an egg consistenly the first 3 to 4 days she lays her egg & waits 1/2 to 45 mins then comes out to forage for bugs & worms with my roo henry but lately i notice she goes into her nesting area & after she lays she now takes 3 /4 hours just sitting on that 1 egg!!! Is this nornal??? I hope she isn't brooding her eggs... & 2 day at around 10:00 a.m. she went in & not sure how long she stayed in her nesting area & came out thinking she had laid her daily 1 egg per day but NO EGG!!! Not sure whats going on with her... Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!