Hen acting strange- frightened?

[sassy1637]

I am probably jumping the gun here, because it's only been a day since I've noticed this behavior...

I have a routine with my chickens. Every night before sundown, I go out to lock my chickens in their run. The run that came with my coop is too small for how many chickens I have (coop is for 20-30 birds, run is for 10... makes sense right?

), so I always wait until the first half of the flock have gone into the coop, and then I go out with a handful of "chicken crack" to lure the rest into the run. They're used to the routine, so they usually all run for the run before I even get there!!

Last night, I was counting them to make sure they were all there, and I noticed that I was missing one of my RI Reds (she just turned a year old this week). Upon looking around, I found her behind an old wood pile that was on the property when we bought it. I figured she probably had some good eats going on, because the logs are all old and full of bugs, and I notice them scratching at them all the time. So, I watched her for a few minutes, and she just stood there, watching me... I tried to lure her over with some treats, but she wanted nothing to do with it! I looked around to make sure she didn't have a clutch of eggs or something hiding over there, but there was nothing... They're from a hatchery, so I figured she shouldn't be going broody anyway... Eventually, I walked over, and tried to pick her up, but she would just run a couple feet from me, turn around and just stare. Both my RIR's aren't particularly friendly, they're very skittish, but will eat out of my hand, if I'm very still.

Of course, now I'm frustrated, but I don't want to upset her, incase something did happen, and she was hurt or scared or something... so I grabbed a rake, and used the handle to get her to run to a corner, so I could pick her up. (I didn't touch her with the rake.) I looked her over, and she didn't have any injuries, missing feathers or anything... So, I put her in the run, and she went straight into the coop.

Then, this morning, I went out early to open the door to the run. Usually, half of them are waiting in the run to be let out, and the other half are in the coop or nesting boxes. Once they hear me coming, they run out of the coop (unless they're laying). I noticed that particular hen wasn't out of the coop, so I peaked in the window to see if she was in the nesting box, and she was just standing on the roost, by herself, just staring at me. A couple minutes went by, and she went out the coop door, made it half way down the ramp, turned around, and went back in the coop to the roost... she hasn't come out since, and it's been over 3 hours... I'm going to wait it out, see if her behavior changes throughout the day... If not, I may take her inside to watch her more closely.

Just wondering if anyone has had similar behavior with a hen?

I'm probably just over-reacting, but I love my chickens, and want to make sure they're all happy and healthy, so I'm concerned!

 

[JanetMarie]

If there is a predator lurking the others would be acting scared also. She may be ill, so I would keep an eye on her. When a chicken is ill they like to find a place to be by themselves.

 

[aart]

Wonders if she's got a softie(soft shell egg) coming down the pike?
Have seen this happen a couple times, with pretty newly laying pullets....
.....once the softie was out, back to normal.

Just keep an eye on her.

 

[Trishreyhui]

Hi. I know it’s been quite a while but what was the update on your chicken? I have a RI red acting awfully strange today. Exhibiting the same behaviors as yours did.

 

[Citychickenlady]

UPDATE! I discovered why My RIR (Mocha) was acting so odd! She laid an egg! (She was given to me for free because she was no longer laying. I just wanted a companion for Elsie whose partner Margaret was killed by a hawk.) Yay Mocha! @Trishreyhui did you have any updates on your RIR. I have one also behaving strangely. Just started today. She is an older gal (4 plus). I got her (and a Plymouth Rock) from a farm that was culling out non layers. I needed companions for my young (not even a year old) very social outgoing Jubilee Orpington. This morning the RIR was really reluctant to come out of nesting/roosting area. My JO was in there with her. I got them both out with treats (its nice out they need to be soaking that sun up). Then a few minutes later I look out and the RIR was up on the coop roof (she'd never done that before). I pick her up and put her down (she let's me handle her. I have a hawk net over entire run but am nervous about one corner she could slip through if she is in coop roof exploring, and I live in the city. She would get hurt if she got out). I put her down after a snuggle to let her know she is safe. And she insisted on going back up into nesting area... other two were out scratching and enjoying life. I worry that she is getting ready to die or something is wrong? But she ate and drank when I made her come out. Could she be laying again? I have only had her a couple months and it's been a brutal winter. Any help I appreciate. My bf thinks I am nuts for reading so much into her behavior. But I spend a lot of time with these ladies and know their clucks and habits pretty well. She is not acting like herself.