hen keeping tail to ground

[lynyrd]

Im not sure what is going on with my 3 yo black star hen. I just went out to give the girls some mealworm treats and she is dragging her tail and vent area along the ground. looks like a dog sitting. otherwise she is acting perfectly normal. she was gobbling up mealworms per norm so her appetite not affected. what would make a hen assume and maintain this strange posture. we have no rooster in our flock and she laid her normal egg yesterday

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Check to see if she is egg bound. You will feel a hard mass in her abdomen.

 

[lynyrd]

no hard mass. now doin the pose off n on will keep an eye on her i guess. dont know ,but really appreciate your suggestions, thank you

 

[JuneM]

no hard mass. now doin the pose off n on will keep an eye on her i guess. dont know ,but really appreciate your suggestions, thank you

Ran across your message when looking for posture symptoms. My 4 year old black sex-link hen is also walking around with her bottom almost on the ground, but eating and moving around normally. Comb looks ok. How did yours turn out? I know it's been several years, but identical symptom.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ran across your message when looking for posture symptoms. My 4 year old black sex-link hen is also walking around with her bottom almost on the ground, but eating and moving around normally. Comb looks ok. How did yours turn out? I know it's been several years, but identical symptom.

Hi @JuneM
This is an old post, so likely the OP will not respond since they have not been on since 2013.
Photos of your hen would be good.
Walking around with her bottom almost on the ground sounds like she has a reproductive problem. Internal Laying, Salpingitis, Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, cancer or tumors all have similar symptoms and can make the abdomen swollen and heavy.

When you feel the abdomen is it hard, fluid filled, etc.? Sometimes if there is fluid in the abdomen it can be drained to give some relief, but that should only be done if the hen is in distress or having difficulties moving about.

A hen that has these problems can go for quite a while. IF she is eating/drinking normally, fairly active, interacting with the flock then I would be inclined to leave her be.
Check her regularly for lice/mites and see that her crop is emptying overnight.

Look forward to your photos

 

[JuneM]

Hi @JuneM
This is an old post, so likely the OP will not respond since they have not been on since 2013.
Photos of your hen would be good.
Walking around with her bottom almost on the ground sounds like she has a reproductive problem. Internal Laying, Salpingitis, Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, cancer or tumors all have similar symptoms and can make the abdomen swollen and heavy.

When you feel the abdomen is it hard, fluid filled, etc.? Sometimes if there is fluid in the abdomen it can be drained to give some relief, but that should only be done if the hen is in distress or having difficulties moving about.

A hen that has these problems can go for quite a while. IF she is eating/drinking normally, fairly active, interacting with the flock then I would be inclined to leave her be.
Check her regularly for lice/mites and see that her crop is emptying overnight.

Look forward to your photos

Thanks so much for your speedy reply and advice. I'm slow - Christmas prep, you know... The hen is still going strong with her bottom down. Not great downloading pictures, but working on it. Her abdomen is firm and reddened with slight swollen area a little smaller than my palm. She moves around easily and can hop up onto low perches, etc. Crop seems normal (within my limited knowledge), she eats heartily. So I've let her be, but if it's eggbound, are there things I can do for her?

Merry Christmas!