hen with tucked tail won't come out of coop

[gretamae]

I have a 2 year old orpington hen who is acting strangely this morning. Her tail is pointed down and she wouldn't come out of the coop all morning even though it's the first day in a long time that the run hasn't been covered in snow.

I did finally get her to come out by enticing her with some corn scratch, so she is eating. Is this normal behavior or a sign of illness?

Thank you in advance.

 

[blazer327]

I wish i could help, but unfortunately i have never had this happen to me. Good luck!

 

[crtrlovr]

one of the first signs of illness my birds exhibit when one is sick.

Check her poop, check her for mites, pick her up and see if she's lost weight, etc.

 

[gretamae]

Thank you. I've been keeping a very close eye on her. On the day of her suspicious behavior she was in the nest box for a long time. When she came out she was walking and eating just fine, and there was a very large, abnormally shaped egg in the box! I'm hoping she was just having a rough time with that sucker. I haven't found any abnormal droppings, and she seems to be acting her normal self again.

I worry all day long about these birds!