Hen won't leave roost in the morning. Help!

[Christa9584]

Hi Everyone!
I am a very new chicken owner, my husband and I just bought a home and the hens came with it. We have since incorporated several new 4 month old hens without issue. They've been living together peacefully for about a month now.

Reds, my RIR, and top of the pecking order Hen wouldn't leave the roost this morning. I go out every morning and give them snacks (mealworms, greens, etc) and she normally is the first to jump down and crowd the door waiting for me. Yesterday she was a little slower, but came down and acted normally. This morning she didn't leave the roost. Everyone else came and snacked and she stayed on top. I petted her and check her vent the best I could and it seems okay. I'm not sure of her age and know very little about chicken health. I'm very worried, does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Farmgal101]

She might be a broody hen meaning shes trying to hatch her eggs.

 

[Christa9584]

She might be a broody hen meaning shes trying to hatch her eggs.

Hello and thank you so much for the quick response! I'm a worrier and I'm panicking lol. I love my girls

I don't think she's Broody as we had one Broody hen recently and she's acting much different than that. The Broody hen would stay in her nesting box and puff her feathers when I came near her. Reds is staying on the roost and otherwise her behavior seems normal. Do different hens act differently when going Broody?

 

[Farmgal101]

yes.I have 7 broody easter egg hens and some puff up and some dont it depends on where there at on the pecking order if shes not puffing up she might be below the pecking order.

 

[Farmgal101]

But you said shes at the top of the pecking order.Might be a change in the pecking order.Or shes not a aggressive broody.

 

[Farmgal101]

Can you send me a picture?

 

[aart]

Hi Everyone!
I am a very new chicken owner, my husband and I just bought a home and the hens came with it. We have since incorporated several new 4 month old hens without issue. They've been living together peacefully for about a month now.

Reds, my RIR, and top of the pecking order Hen wouldn't leave the roost this morning. I go out every morning and give them snacks (mealworms, greens, etc) and she normally is the first to jump down and crowd the door waiting for me. Yesterday she was a little slower, but came down and acted normally. This morning she didn't leave the roost. Everyone else came and snacked and she stayed on top. I petted her and check her vent the best I could and it seems okay. I'm not sure of her age and know very little about chicken health. I'm very worried, does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks in advance!!!

Welcome to BYC.
Hard to say, but usually when a bird is not as active as usual she's not feeling well.
I'd get her down from the roost, give her a good feel all over, watch how she walks, and just keep an eye on her.
How long has it been since the new birds arrived?
How does her poops look?
Maybe too many treats?
Is it hot where you live?

 

[Christa9584]

Welcome to BYC.
Hard to say, but usually when a bird is not as active as usual she's not feeling well.
I'd get her down from the roost, give her a good feel all over, watch how she walks, and just keep an eye on her.
How long has it been since the new birds arrived?

She has since come down, but hasn't touched the worms I put in there this morning and seems to be walking normally. I checked her vent and I believe it looks okay (I'm still new to this, though). Her "nose" isn't draining, no obvious injuries, not missing any feathers, her comb is upright and red. It doesn't make sense to me. She did get down and is hanging out alone which isn't too unusual for her, but she seems a bit more anitisocial than usual and sat under the house for a bit which she never does.

The new hens have been in there for about a month and everyone has been fine so far. No issues at all.

 

[Farmgal101]

She has since come down, but hasn't touched the worms I put in there this morning and seems to be walking normally. I checked her vent and I believe it looks okay (I'm still new to this, though). Her "nose" isn't draining, no obvious injuries, not missing any feathers, her comb is upright and red. It doesn't make sense to me. She did get down and is hanging out alone which isn't too unusual for her, but she seems a bit more anitisocial than usual and sat under the house for a bit which she never does.

The new hens have been in there for about a month and everyone has been fine so far. No issues at all.

Can you send us a picture or video of her in action.

 

[Christa9584]

Can you send us a picture or video of her in action.