Concerning behaviour in hen, illness or something else?

[hatched_]

Hi all,

I've recently obtained a flock of 6 hens and 1 rooster and still learning lots about them. Chicken novice here! Really looking for some advice regarding one of my hens who is displaying some abnormal behaviour. I feel something is definitely off with her. E.g. she just stands around a lot in one spot, not doing much or she's laying on the ground a lot. She is often by herself, away from the rest of the flock. She is missing feathers on her back toward her tail, and slightly on her head as well. Just generally has slowed down, although from what I can see is still eating/drinking. Tonight when locking them up in their coop, I noticed all the chickens were roosting, but she was on the floor tucked right in the corner. Earlier today she was trying to get some veggie scraps and one of the other hens pecked at her. I'm not sure of her exact age, but she'd be at least a few years old now. Could this be mites/lice? Something else? Anything in particular I should be doing to help her?

 

[aart]

Just generally has slowed down

How long have you had them?
What all and how exactly are you feeding?
How big is the coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics are most helpful in diagnosing issues.

one of the other hens pecked at her.

This is how chickens communicate......she's probably the low hen.
As long as she wasn't pinned down and pecked bloody, you'll have to let it ride.
Lots of space and places to get away from a superior can really help.

Could this be mites/lice?

Maybe, but always good to check them over real well for mites and/or lice, especially when getting older birds which can come with pests and/or disease.

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008


Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @hatched_
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[SmiYa0126]

Please post pictures, she may be molting or it could be feather picking or aggressive mating. We can be tell better from pictures.

Do you know if she's laying?

 

[hatched_]

Please post pictures, she may be molting or it could be feather picking or aggressive mating. We can be tell better from pictures.

Do you know if she's laying?

Hello! We have three hens who are currently laying but I haven't figured out if she is one of them. We did find an egg with a wrinkled shell today but not sure if it came from her or another hen.
I will post some pics in the morning as it's almost midnight here

 

[hatched_]

How long have you had them?
What all and how exactly are you feeding?
How big is the coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics are most helpful in diagnosing issues.


This is how chickens communicate......she's probably the low hen.
As long as she wasn't pinned down and pecked bloody, you'll have to let it ride.
Lots of space and places to get away from a superior can really help.


Maybe, but always good to check them over real well for mites and/or lice, especially when getting older birds which can come with pests and/or disease.

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008


Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @hatched_
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3387698

Hello!

Thanks for replying, I am in the northern part of Victoria in Australia and it is very hot this time of year. Thanks for the tip about adding in my location, I've done that now.

They are locked up in a roughly 3m X 6m coop overnight, but they are let out at first light and are free to roam on our 10 acre property during the day.

We have had them for about a month now, they are fed chicken pellets formulated for layers, using a self feeder, and they get all our fruit and veg scraps as well.

I'll try and get some pics in the morning as it's almost midnight here now

 

[hatched_]

Pics of hen as of this morning

 

[Mrs. K]

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/ectoparasites/mites-of-poultry

Look up depluming mites, it looks like the pictures to me. Some animals are much more susceptible to parasites, but more than likely they will all get it.

I would treat them all.

Mrs K

 

[hatched_]

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/ectoparasites/mites-of-poultry

Look up depluming mites, it looks like the pictures to me. Some animals are much more susceptible to parasites, but more than likely they will all get it.

I would treat them all.

Mrs K

Thank you, I suspected something like this, I'll look into treatment for everyone.

 

[aart]

We have had them for about a month now, they are fed chicken pellets formulated for layers, using a self feeder, and they get all our fruit and veg scraps as well.

What's the protein percentage?
I'd cut out all the scraps for now.

 

[First girl]

Hi all,

I've recently obtained a flock of 6 hens and 1 rooster and still learning lots about them. Chicken novice here! Really looking for some advice regarding one of my hens who is displaying some abnormal behaviour. I feel something is definitely off with her. E.g. she just stands around a lot in one spot, not doing much or she's laying on the ground a lot. She is often by herself, away from the rest of the flock. She is missing feathers on her back toward her tail, and slightly on her head as well. Just generally has slowed down, although from what I can see is still eating/drinking. Tonight when locking them up in their coop, I noticed all the chickens were roosting, but she was on the floor tucked right in the corner. Earlier today she was trying to get some veggie scraps and one of the other hens pecked at her. I'm not sure of her exact age, but she'd be at least a few years old now. Could this be mites/lice? Something else? Anything in particular I should be doing to help her?

I can comment on the missing feathers. You have a rooster and that is where they hold on when doing the deed. I have 2 roosters and when the girls ended up bare backed I bought aprons to put on them. I was mostly worried about them being in the sun, so I covered them. It also aided in new feather growth. Her behavior is indicative to the peaking order. It sounds like she is the last in "the" group.