HELP! Diagnose my sick chicken....

[chickchick]

My Buff Orpington hen is now 1 year old, and has slways been healthy and lays regularly. But she has been in the nesting box day and night, never once getting out for the last 2 days.

I have hand fed her some feed and scratch, but she won't take any water or the oatmeal I made for her. She did lay an egg last evening.

No external signs of wounds or mites.

We did have 3 days of really hot weather, into the 90's and I provided them with extra water but I don't think they really took it. I was wondering if she may have heat stroke? It is much cooler now, but she still won't come out.

Does anyone have any ideas? Please post them my way of you do, I really don't know what else to do for her right now.

Thank you for your help...

 

[SoccerMomof7]

Is she trying to sit on eggs? Maybe going broody? I am not sure but I hope she is fine...

 

[vwoods]

Buffs are broody girls. I think she may be getiing broody on you!

 

[Bi0sC0mp]

yup she has gone broody.. just the way alot of them buff hens are

 

[Matt A NC]

Do a test for broodiness. Set her out of the nest. She should either set down, fuzzed up, and clucking or take off to the food while fuzzed up and clucking at you. If she just sets there clucking, ruffle up her back feathers(may take severel attempts). She should complain, but this should get her up to eat. If not, put your hand under her butt and start gently pushing her along till she takes off.

If broody she will return to the nest after food, water, and probably a dust bath.

Matt

 

[chickchick]

ChickChick's DH here:

We thought she may be broody as whenever I'd go out to console her she'd tend to ruffle up and make herself look big and protective. So we removed the egg under her (the 'lay here' fake egg), took her out and threw out a bunch of their 'treat' feed. All the chickens came running and she went right for the water.

So we're sticking with broody and will try all the usual techniques for keeping her fed and happy.

Thanks for all the quick replies! We weren't aware (or at least I wasn't) that Buffs are particularly broody.

Dionys