Healthy hen is quite lazy

[The_BirdNerd]

I have a ISA Brown hen, I actually can’t remember how old she is but I know I’ve had her for a month and that she is under a year old. She lives on her own, awaiting my attention from first thing in the morning and when I get home in the afternoon. She is so sweet, chatty and nifty. She lays good shelled eggs everyday, eats a diet that consist of layer pellets, grass, shell grit, bugs (she finds them herself) and bits of leftover fruit from my lunch. I make sure she gets the best bits and plentiful amounts of water!

Apart from all that, I’ve noticed that she likes to sit down a bit and she will sit basically anywhere near her coop. She has dust baths occasionally and preens her feathers before she goes to bed. Her droppings are normal, except the fact that she has tapeworm segments that look like little rice grains in them. I’ve tried a deworming liquid, no luck, and apple cider vinegar along with diotamaceous earth and she still has them. It really doesn’t bother her, and her weight is consistent but I’m just wondering why she sits so much?

She has no injuries anywhere and no signs of bumblefoot and anytime she sees me do something she’ll stand up and walk just fine. Could it be boredom because she doesn’t have a friend, or is she just a chill chook who likes to laze about?

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

I would say she is lonely. Chickens are very social animals and really need to live in pairs at a minimum. Can you get another hen or pullet somewhere of a similar age?

 

[drumstick diva]

I would take care of the tapeworms properly, DE won't do anything nor will vinegar.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I agree that an additional pal would improve her well-being significantly.

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Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[The_BirdNerd]

I’ll be getting another chicken soon, I’m just waiting to hear back from the person I’m getting her from. I really am trying to get her spirits up, she’ll start trilling to me and I’ll trill back and we have our own mini conversations. I’ve laid down new soil in her dusting corner and she’s having a blast digging through it. Also I’ve been trying to find a way to get rid of the worms but I really can’t find a successful way, I’ve heard pumpkin seeds might work and garlic too. Any suggestions for that?

Also thank you everyone, I just wanted to make sure she was ok

 

[N F C]

If you use the Search Forums link at the top of the page, you'll be able to do some research of BYC posts about deworming (there are a lot of them). This article in the Learning Center may be helpful to you too:
internal-parasites-parasitic-worms-in-chickens.66969

Best of luck to you!

 

[dawg53]

I’ll be getting another chicken soon, I’m just waiting to hear back from the person I’m getting her from. I really am trying to get her spirits up, she’ll start trilling to me and I’ll trill back and we have our own mini conversations. I’ve laid down new soil in her dusting corner and she’s having a blast digging through it. Also I’ve been trying to find a way to get rid of the worms but I really can’t find a successful way, I’ve heard pumpkin seeds might work and garlic too. Any suggestions for that?

Also thank you everyone, I just wanted to make sure she was ok

Pumpkin seeds and garlic wont get rid of worms. Here's what you need:
https://www.planetpoultry.com.au/medications/65-worm-out-tablets-vetafarm-50tabs.html
Insects are vectors for tapeworms and other worms. Controlling the insect population reduces risks of tapeworm infection.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
You've gotten good advice for getting rid of the tapeworms and providing your hen with proper companionship. You should toss the ACV and DE. They don't work. Good luck with your hen.

 

[The_BirdNerd]

Thanks everyone for the expert answers, I’ll do my best to get my hands on those dewormers but for the meantime I gotta get another friend for my chook! Thank you again!

 

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