Hen not leaving coop

[keechoo]

Hi! I'm new to the whole chicken rearing thing but I'm loving it.

Ok, here's my problem.... my 5 month old Rhode Island Red pullet has not come out of the coop for at least 24 hours. I believe she was the runt of the flock for she is slow in developing meaning her comb has not come in all the way like her sister of the same age and she is the smallest of the flock. She gets up to eat and drinks if I bring the waterer to her in the box she has been lying in. Poop looks normal as does her body Her feathers are fluffed up (we live in New England) and she is making some noise. She won't go foraging with the others and when she used to they would pick on her. However, when I went to lock them up tonight, she was in the center and the other 5 were surrounding her which is the way they sleep. We put on a heating lamp thinking maybe she was cold. At first I thought maybe she was getting ready to lay but now I don't think so. The rooster was copulating with her a couple of days ago. The other Rad has not started laying eggs either. Any suggestions? Do you think she is okay?

Please any little bit of help would be much appreciated. I love these guys and they follow me around like their Mommy. Thank you for any help!

 

[johnnyjack]

im no exspert but i would seperate her from the rest maybe she is just worn out if she is smaller.being bullyed or rooted out. give her time.i bet she will come around.

 

[keechoo]

When I went to check on her today she was eating and drinking. She even came out of the coop even though it is raining. I took a close look at her and noticed a white something or other going around her beak at the point where it is connected to her head. Like I said, it is white with some black and green. First thing I thought of was fungus but have not found anything on the site with the same symptoms. I looked at her sister and she has a little white there and the rooster has none. I didn't look at the others because they are different varieties.

Normal or am I just worrying over nothing?

 

[kdakis]

I have been keeping chix for about 12 out of 15 years here in Boulder, CO. sounds like a broody girl! isolate her for a couple days with good food and water. let her see the other hens thru the fence before re-integration into the flock. my roadisland reds took a little longer to start laying so i bet they start soon. Also i see funky stuff on my hens once in awhile. keep an eye on it but otherwise i wouldn't worry.