Chicken laying down and tail feathers downward

[Chook Kingdom]

I had to put down a Columbian Rock hen because she was doing that some days before and on the day I butchered I found her flat on the floor still alive with her head up. It could also be impact crop, if she twists her head forward and then stops. My Rhode Islands and Barred Rocks did that and I just gave them budgie grits.

 

[gregula girls]

Yes, she does flick her head. Just laying around. Back seems humped. Does that sound like egg binding?? She hasn't laid an egg in many days.

 

[Chook Kingdom]

I don't know...the flicking was associated with a disease. She could have caught it from dander blowing form an other farm. That's how I lost Queeny, the ISA Brown. I hope it is egg binding! That's what might of happened to my ISA, I am guessing. You better find something out quickly because I always had a death days after the flicking.

 

[KtbG]

Help! My 1 year old is doing the same.

 

[5lovelyhens]

The flickin is the only thing that I'm not sure about. The rest sounds exactly like my barred rock who had egg binding. I would treat her for that immediately. Give her a warm bath for about 30 minutes and then stick Vaseline or some type of oil up her vent. There's many posts on how to treat it. But they don't have long to live when they get it. So treat her asap jus in case.

 

[Chook Kingdom]

The flicking the head is, in most cases, a sign of pain in the interior. Like I said, I have had it before, but unfortunately they all died from it. Try doing the egg binding procedure and see what happens.

 

[Chook Kingdom]

She could also be drowsy?

 

[ochochicas]

My egg bound hens have always gone to the nest box and you could see them straining to lay an egg. If you think she is egg bound you can give her a 500 mg calcium tablet and see if that helps the egg come out.

You should feel her chest area. If her crop is full then she might have an impacted crop. You can massage it several times a day and see if that breaks up whatever is in there. Also feel her breast bone. If it is very prominent she has probably not been eating for a while and could have a serious illness. You could call the vet.

 

[gregula girls]

I checked for eggs and did not feel any. I gave her a warm soak anyways since it is a warm day here, 77 degrees and have not seen any improvement.

 

[5lovelyhens]

Sometimes it takes a couple baths to show improvement. If that doesn't work, sometimes people put gloves on and put Vaseline up in there. It sounds gross, but it helps them. My barred rock never passed her egg it was stuck 2 inches up. If you didn't feel an egg though, I'm not sure what it is...