Hen sitting alot in random places, not broody??

ForTheLoveOfSilkies

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Silkie hen, not laying for a over 2 months now (Winter here) ..was broody over 2 months ago and I broke her in the usual broody cage and she wasn't broody anymore but I have noticed she keeps sitting and doesn't move around much. Occasionally I'll see her foraging with the others but often she's sitting in the yard while others are foraging.

I have treated her with Ivermectin, 2 doses a week apart (3 wks ago) and have been oiling her feet and legs a few times a week, due to mites. (She looks dirty because the oil gets messy with dust bathing)
As she is often sitting my roosters take advantage and she has ruffled worn feathers on her back as she is easy to mate while sitting most of the day.

This is 'Boof' just now I picked her up and placed her down near the food, she ate little and moved to a new spot where she just sat down.
She is slow to move and crouches down /sits.


Any ideas??


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Is her crop emptying overnight?

Can she see well? She may need a bit of a trim - sometimes that really does help.

It's possible she may be having some reproductive issues. There's so many things that can go wrong with hens.

She may also be hiding out a bit if the roosters are taking advantage
 
Is her crop emptying overnight?

Can she see well? She may need a bit of a trim - sometimes that really does help.

It's possible she may be having some reproductive issues. There's so many things that can go wrong with hens.

She may also be hiding out a bit if the roosters are taking advantage
Yes crop emptying.
She is 1.5 yrs old and has got around fine with the fluffy crest but I could trim it anyway.
She has always been a willing squatter, but could be hiding from the boys. But sitting alot wouldn't help her chances from not being mated or the fact that she just squats/sits out in the open, not always in a hiding spot.
I have changed to layer feed a few months ago but have eggshell on the side. I normally have them on grower feed but it has 'natural' anti-cocci in it so I was giving them a break, only option is layer feed.
I have poultry vitamins in their water.
She does go to roost at night with the others.

Could be reproductive issues of some sort, anything I can do?
 
You may want to take her aside and see that she's eating/drinking well.
Feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs for bloat or fluid.
Look her over - see if she's molting or if lice/mites on the body may be a problem. I know you treated with Ivermectin which should take care of them, but it's best to double check.
 
You may want to take her aside and see that she's eating/drinking well.
Feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs for bloat or fluid.
Look her over - see if she's molting or if lice/mites on the body may be a problem. I know you treated with Ivermectin which should take care of them, but it's best to double check.
I couldn't feel any bloat/ fluid. Mites seem to be taken care of. Not molting. She's eating and drinking, just sitting around or roosting alot during the day. Maybe over obliging the rooster by squatting all the time, dunno. Or in a constant state of half broody 🤷
 
Just wondering how your hen is? I have an isa brown acting very similarly at the moment and I don’t know how concerned I should be.
 
Just wondering how your hen is? I have an isa brown acting very similarly at the moment and I don’t know how concerned I should be.
She is a little better but still not laying and stays in the coop or close by the coop area mostly. Occasionally I'll see her out foraging but not far from the coop like the others do.
You could try things as others have suggested on here, a bit of poultry vitamins may help too.
 

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