We've only had chickens since December. They are new to us. They've been doing really well up until this weekend. One of our hens isn't eating like usual. She's walking funny. Her body is more vertical than horizontal. Tail is almost at the ground. She kind of puffs up as well. This is all new to us. We take really good care of our animals, so I'm very frustrated that I can't find an answer for this. She also has poop on her feathers.
Is she walking like a penguin? If she is she is probably an internal egg layer and I don't think there is a cure but I could be wrong.
No matter how well someone takes care of their flock things are bound to happen and it is in no way a reflection on the way you take care of your hens. Always remember that. Chickens are funny little creatures and can get sick for any number of reasons or none at all.
Let me look up internal egg laying. I think it is a reproductive system glitch.
The following information is from
The Chicken Health Book......Gail Damerow
An internal layer is a hen with partially or fully formed eggs in her abdominal cavity, caused by reverse peristaltic action (the wavelike motion that moves the egg through the oviduct). No one knows what causes peristaltic action to reverse, and no treatment is known. An internal layer is recognized by her lowered rear end, causing her to stand like a penguin.
