Chicken sitting—always a bad sign?

[Peas4Ducks]

I have a Black Sex Link who recently has taken to plopping down. She looks healthy, her feet and legs look fine, her poop is occasionally runny but not more than usual, and she stays with the flock—I just notice her sitting every so often. This is a fairly recent change in behavior for her.

Does this always indicate that a chicken is sick? Or do some chickens just sit occasionally?

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Mine are loungers... spoiled and living in vacation mode

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I have a Black Sex Link who recently has taken to plopping down. She looks healthy, her feet and legs look fine, her poop is occasionally runny but not more than usual, and she stays with the flock—I just notice her sitting every so often. This is a fairly recent change in behavior for her.

Does this always indicate that a chicken is sick? Or do some chickens just sit occasionally?

So you've picked her up and checked the bottoms of her feet for bumblefoot?

When the weather is nice, chickens like to enjoy and lounge in the sun just like we do. Maybe that's what she's been doing?

 

[Peas4Ducks]

So you've picked her up and checked the bottoms of her feet for bumblefoot?

When the weather is nice, chickens like to enjoy and lounge in the sun just like we do. Maybe that's what she's been doing?

Thanks for your response. Yep, the bottoms of her feet look fine. And more often than not, she’s sitting underneath our porch in the shade. I’ve also noticed that she starts most nights off on the floor off the coop now, though based on the pattern of their poop in the morning it looks like she always gets up on the perch at some point.

I’ve missed early signs of illness in chickens before, and I would hate for that to happen here. She’s one of our friendliest and most personable chickens.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Thanks for your response. Yep, the bottoms of her feet look fine. And more often than not, she’s sitting underneath our porch in the shade. I’ve also noticed that she starts most nights off on the floor off the coop now, though based on the pattern of their poop in the morning it looks like she always gets up on the perch at some point.

I’ve missed early signs of illness in chickens before, and I would hate for that to happen here. She’s one of our friendliest and most personable chickens.

Based off of what you're seeing, I'm not sure what else to suggest at this point except to keep monitoring her. How old is she?

 

[Peas4Ducks]

She’s about two and a half. I think you’re right that all I can do for the moment is to keep an eye on her.

 

[Byrd gal]

The late roosting could be from a bully. I have a girl that was doing the same thing. I started putting her next to the nice girls and it eventually stopped. Maybe she is in lounge mode. Must be the life!

 

[AngBantamLuv]

The late roosting could be from a bully. I have a girl that was doing the same thing. I started putting her next to the nice girls and it eventually stopped. Maybe she is in lounge mode. Must be the life!

Im curious about who is sleeping where.. i have a camera to put in the coop.. ill have to camouflage it so they don't peck it

 

[aart]

And more often than not, she’s sitting underneath our porch in the shade.

Is it just starting to get hot where you live?
Older birds can not take the heat as well, and take longer to get used to it.

She’s about two and a half. I think you’re right that all I can do for the moment is to keep an eye on her.

When I have a bird that is acting 'off' this is what I do:
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

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.

 

[Peas4Ducks]

That is super helpful advice, thank you! She seems much perkier and more active today, and it has just started getting hot here. I'll keep a close eye on her throughout the day and if she still seems off, I'll try isolating her to monitor her.