Chicken sleeping in nesting box

[Matisse188]

I’m not sure if our bird is sick. She had been broody for a while. When she came out she then began molting and lost most of her feathers at the same time. I noticed a soiled back end and thought that she had diarrhea, then I found her sleeping in the nesting box and it was filthy. I also noticed that her comb is folded over a bit and looks pale and maybe a little gray closer to her head. Her feathers have mostly grown in as it’s getting colder. She seems to be eating and drinking fine.
She stays by herself.

???

 

[aart]

When I have a bird that is acting off......
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.

 

[littlechickenmama17]

At first when i read this I thought to break the broodiness out of her, but the soiled back end? She may be broody but is having trouble with the no-hatching-chicks problem. I suggest you put her in a cage that lets air flow, 1/1 ratio of ACV and water, and, like @aart suggested, check the intake and outtake of anything that goes in or out of her body. She may be having a hard try at being a mama hen, IF she was/is broody, as broodiness is a good time for parasites or virus' to set in. Just watch her, and keep us updated. Good luck!

Also, do u have a pic of what she looks like now? Could help in findings of her ailment.

 

[Happy hen lover]

@Eggcessive , @azygous

 

[azygous]

Get her out of the nest box. Clean it out, put fresh nesting material in it and block it off so she can't get back into it.

When I have a nest sleeper, I watch at roosting time to see how she interacts with the others. Often, a nest sleep is hiding there to avoid the conflicts over roosting space. You need to determine of more space is needed or if she merely needs a little help for a few nights getting settled into a spot on the perch.

However, she may be sick, and you need to observe her to try to glean some clues as to what the issue is. Is she active or lethargic? Is she eating and drinking? Is her poop abnormal? Does she have any discharges from vent, or nares or eyes? Does she have any swelling under the vent? Does she appear to be in pain? Tail held low and shoulders hunched?

 

[Matisse188]

When I have a bird that is acting off......
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.

Thanks, I will try this

 

[Matisse188]

At first when i read this I thought to break the broodiness out of her, but the soiled back end? She may be broody but is having trouble with the no-hatching-chicks problem. I suggest you put her in a cage that lets air flow, 1/1 ratio of ACV and water, and, like @aart suggested, check the intake and outtake of anything that goes in or out of her body. She may be having a hard try at being a mama hen, IF she was/is broody, as broodiness is a good time for parasites or virus' to set in. Just watch her, and keep us updated. Good luck!

Also, do u have a pic of what she looks like now? Could help in findings of her ailment.

I will post pictures

 

[Matisse188]

At first when i read this I thought to break the broodiness out of her, but the soiled back end? She may be broody but is having trouble with the no-hatching-chicks problem. I suggest you put her in a cage that lets air flow, 1/1 ratio of ACV and water, and, like @aart suggested, check the intake and outtake of anything that goes in or out of her body. She may be having a hard try at being a mama hen, IF she was/is broody, as broodiness is a good time for parasites or virus' to set in. Just watch her, and keep us updated. Good luck!

Also, do u have a pic of what she looks like now? Could help in findings of her ailment.

 

[Matisse188]

Get her out of the nest box. Clean it out, put fresh nesting material in it and block it off so she can't get back into it.

When I have a nest sleeper, I watch at roosting time to see how she interacts with the others. Often, a nest sleep is hiding there to avoid the conflicts over roosting space. You need to determine of more space is needed or if she merely needs a little help for a few nights getting settled into a spot on the perch.

However, she may be sick, and you need to observe her to try to glean some clues as to what the issue is. Is she active or lethargic? Is she eating and drinking? Is her poop abnormal? Does she have any discharges from vent, or nares or eyes? Does she have any swelling under the vent? Does she appear to be in pain? Tail held low and shoulders hunched?