Does my hen look sick, or ready to lay?

[Iluveggers]

My hens are all about 23 weeks. Tomorrow is the longest day of the year. The one in the picture has been staying in the coop more than going out (if treats are offered she is going out for a few hours here & there). When she is in the coop, she is circling in the corner, almost pacing and then just standing in the corner. She is eating, feels like she has not lost weight, and has regular feathering (some went through a mini-moult). There are no older hens to show these ladies what to do. We have nest boxes set up with bedding & golf balls. I even picked her up & put her in the box but she immediately jumped out. I put out oyster shell and it has been eaten each time. Could she be getting ready to lay & things are “off” because of lack of light? Could she be sick? She honestly looks confused to me. I have picked her up and brought her outside and she immediately snaps out of it & walks around like normal. She almost seems broody without the meanness. Please offer your opinions. Here are some pics. She is roosting with the others at night.

 

[deidreg]

She looks healthy. You're taking good care of her. I think she'll lay when she's ready.

 

[21hens-incharge]

The posture in the second pic says sick.

Is it super cold where you live?

 

[Iluveggers]

It was 20 degrees when I took the pic.

Here is another pic of her on the other side of the coop, about 2 minutes later.

 

[21hens-incharge]

It was 20 degrees when I took the pic.

Here is another pic of her on the other side of the coop, about 2 minutes later.

This pic looks much better.

Is she eating well? Pooping normally? Moving around well even if she is staying in the coop?

Spending time checking out the nests? Doing the egg squat when you approach?

 

[Iluveggers]

This pic looks much better.

Is she eating well? Pooping normally? Moving around well even if she is staying in the coop?

Spending time checking out the nests? Doing the egg squat when you approach?

She is eating. Moving around. She isn’t out as much as the others but she is going out. I sprinkled some scratch out to see what she would do & she was frolicking with the others & hunting through the leaves for goodies.

I haven’t seen her in the nest but the bedding we put in the nests was scattered all over the floor a few times leaving the nests empty except for the golf balls. A few of the girls have been squatting the last few days, but I can’t remember if she did when I went over to pick her up and feel her body (felt normal) although she didn’t fuss when I did pick her up which is unusual.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think about all you can do for now is to keep an eye on her for lethargic behavior and watch her food intake. If she gets lethargic or stops eating it's serious.

 

[Iluveggers]

I think about all you can do for now is to keep an eye on her for lethargic behavior and watch her food intake. If she gets lethargic or stops eating it's serious.

Thank you. I will post if anything changes (or if she lays an egg)! Hopefully it’s just that.

 

[The Duck Dad]

my ducks will seem really tired, lazy and they'll even just sit down when i take them out and act really weird when they lay their first egg

 

[Iluveggers]

my ducks will seem really tired, lazy and they'll even just sit down when i take them out and act really weird when they lay their first egg

Thank you. That’s kind of how she was acting. Maybe I’ll get a Christmas surprise this week!