Hen squatting

[ourtown]

The Black Australorp hen is 2 years old and has started squatting - she is quite large and has been healthy until now

When she jumps down from her perch she seems to land heavily and when she goes to feed with the flock she has started squatting as though she intends to lay an egg but on open ground after a few minutes she wanders off but I see her again afterwards squatting again and not wanting to be disturbed

Any ideas ?

I lost 2 hens recently to an opossum that got into the coop and the flock hasnt been laying many eggs but otherwise everything is normal

 

[All4Eggz]

Do you have any roosters?

Hens squat whenever they are going to mate.. sometimes if you don't have roosters, they will squat when humans try to pick them up or get to close.

Squatting serves as a "platform" for the rooster to mount him and do his job

Can you get some pictures?

 

[ourtown]

>Do you have any roosters?
Yes
>Hens squat whenever they are going to mate.
It doesnt want to mate - when the rooster tries the hen moves away

Picture tomorrow

 

[All4Eggz]

>Hens squat whenever they are going to mate.
It doesnt want to mate - when the rooster tries the hen moves away

Sometimes they get a little intimidated by the roosters, so they squat. But when the rooster tries to mount them, they run away - they sort of rethink it... lol My hens do that sometimes, but I'm not sure if that's your case.

@aart

 

[ChickNanny13]

When was the last time she laid? Have you checked if she maybe egg bound?

 

[ourtown]

>When was the last time she laid
No idea - I have 11 hens and I really don't see them laying - it has become cold recently and they are laying a lot less frequently

>egg bound
That was my first thought but she doesnt seem to match the symptoms
I will try to treat her tomorrow

 

[ourtown]

Still lethargic - a little excrement caked around her vent but the vent doesnt appear blocked and pulses

I soaked her in a washing up bowl - now she is just squatting in the sun

 

[All4Eggz]

Still lethargic - a little excrement caked around her vent but the vent doesnt appear blocked and pulses

I soaked her in a washing up bowl - now she is just squatting in the sun

The first photo almost looks like she is broody..??

 

[ourtown]

Strange - cloaca is empty - no sign of eggs - not moving at all - not eating or drinking

I think that she is dying - probably egg binding but not the usual symptoms