Hen limping, tail down, lying down alot

[Ac7941]

I have an 8 month hen who has been acting ill for the past few days. She is laying down a lot, limping(and the limp has gotten worse), and has her tail down often. She still moves with the flock, but slower and is more often laying down while the others free range. Sometimes she’s on her own laying down somewhere and the rest of the flock is farther away. Occasionally I’ve seen her squatting and pumping her tail. She still roosts at night. She hasn’t started laying eggs yet so I thought she could potentially be egg bound for her first egg.

tonight my husband and I went into the coop and caught her, checked her feet and legs for cuts/abrasions (there were none), and I checked her vent w a gloved finger for an egg (there was none, and I went at least 2 inches up).

anyone have any ideas/suggestions as to what might be going on with her? Any help/advice is appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Unfortunately it sounds possibly like Mareks disease, but that is only a guess. She is the right age for symptoms. Was she vaccinated? It is good that you have mentioned checking her for a stuck egg, and telling us that she has not laid an egg before. She could have a reproductive disorder that has prevented her from laying, but the limping sounds worrisome. Does it seem like she is trying to put weight on the leg, but it seems numb or asleep? Make sure that she is able to get to food and water. Separate her if the other chickens start to peck or bully her. Here is some reading:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pleaseee-helpppp.1347265/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[Ac7941]

It looks like she might be just about to start laying - I found a double shelless egg in the roost this morning, and she has been tail up, seems less uncomfortable today. She is still laying down quite a bit but has been out more than in the past few days.

Is this normal behavior for some pullets when they're about to start laying? My other pullets had pretty much no change in behavior and just started laying right in the nesting box with no problem.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The behavior you have described is not normal pre-laying behavior. The limping, lying around, separation from the flock and tail down are symptoms of a bird in discomfort or pain.

 

[Eggcessive]

Does she seem to be getting around to eat and drink? It seems like she is better, but would be good to watch her more closely to see if she is laying.

 

[Ac7941]

She seems to be doing better! She was out free ranging with the rest of the flock today, tail up, not laying down as much, still limping slightly but seemingly less so. I don't know if it's her, but someone laid their first real egg in one of the nest boxes today (it was smaller so clearly not full sized yet). It's between her and one other pullet I have that has yet to start laying. I'll keep a close eye on her for the next few days to find out. Thank you for your help!

 

[Eggcessive]

I am glad that she is doing better and outside with her flock. Just keep an eye on her, and update your thread here on any news.