hen with tail pointed downwards (non laying hen)

[shannon84]

Hello, I have an older hen that doesn't lay anymore. Shes been acting odd with her tail pointed downwards. Eats and drinks just fine. Any ideas what this could be? Thanks!

 

[azygous]

That particular stance is usually associated with pain. Older hens often get reproductive cancer.

 

[shannon84]

That particular stance is usually associated with pain. Older hens often get reproductive cancer.

Oh gosh. What can I do for her as far as pain? Or?

 

[azygous]

If she appears to be struggling with getting an egg out, which older hens sometimes try to do in early spring, you can give her calcium to increase her shell gland operations, and it also helps with contractions. If you see her visiting the nest box and spending fruitless time there, you should suspect an egg may be hung up.

This is the kind of calcium to give her, one tablet a day until she passes the egg.