I'm not sure if EE hen is going to lay or not

[tiffnichole20]

I have an EE hen that's 23-24 weeks old. She's on an 18% layer feed. This past week and a half she's been acting odd. She's been going into the pet taxi i have in her coop & laying there for long periods of time which makes me think she's going to lay. She's also been pulling feathers. Anytime i go into the coop (to feed, water, spend time with her) she makes it a point to jump onto my shoulder & after she's done on my shoulder she jumps to her roost. I was feeling her this morning and I noticed she felt thin. I don't understand how because I increased her daily food and she eats every bit of it. Also, in case it might be important, her poop is a combination of cecal poop and regular poop

 

[Top Rooster]

Most of this sounds like she's going broody the whole sitting in the nest for a long time, plucking bottom feathers, losing weight. All of that is signs she's going broody is she puffing up or making funny clucks and growls when your around her? Although she could easily just be getting prepared to nest in a weird way it sounds very much like a broody hen. Very rarely do hens go broody before laying but it does happen just not often. What breed is she?

 

[lazy gardener]

You stated that you had increased her feed. That makes me wonder if you are allowing her to eat "free choice" or if you are feeding her an allotted amount every day. You might consider making her feed available to her all day long, and then removing it at night to deter rodents and predators. She does not sound broody to me.

Where is she pulling the feathers from? Do you see her doing it, or just notice the bare spots? Is she eating them? Try giving her some animal protein. What is the mill date on your feed? Any other birds?

 

[tiffnichole20]

You stated that you had increased her feed. That makes me wonder if you are allowing her to eat "free choice" or if you are feeding her an allotted amount every day. You might consider making her feed available to her all day long, and then removing it at night to deter rodents and predators. She does not sound broody to me.

Where is she pulling the feathers from? Do you see her doing it, or just notice the bare spots? Is she eating them? Try giving her some animal protein. What is the mill date on your feed? Any other birds?

I allow her to eat as she pleases, and the feed is available to her 24/7. What I meant is that I give her more than I usually do, her usual is about half of a medium McDonald's clear cup & I increased to a full clear cup. As for rodents/ predators, I don't think any are present at this time because my Lab is very vocal about predators & other animals that shouldn't be here. She seems to be pulling from her chest & the area near her vent. I've seen her do it once & I haven't noticed bare spots, her feathers just seem to be everywhere and she doesn't seem to be eating them. I will try to give her some today. I'm not sure about the mill date on the feed, I would check but I just got rid of the bag a few days ago. And no other birds at this time, but I am in the process of lookinf for a rooster.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you only have the one bird, I strongly advise against a rooster. What she needs is female companionship. check her for signs of mites or lice.

 

[tiffnichole20]

Most of this sounds like she's going broody the whole sitting in the nest for a long time, plucking bottom feathers, losing weight. All of that is signs she's going broody is she puffing up or making funny clucks and growls when your around her? Although she could easily just be getting prepared to nest in a weird way it sounds very much like a broody hen. Very rarely do hens go broody before laying but it does happen just not often. What breed is she?

She is puffing up, but only one sound she makes is different from the rest of the sounds she makes, it sounds a lot like a squeak. & she's an Easter Egger, the sign at the feed store said she was an Araucana but she had tail feathers.

 

[tiffnichole20]

If you only have the one bird, I strongly advise against a rooster. What she needs is female companionship. check her for signs of mites or lice.

I have it planned to get a few more pullets this coming spring

 

[Cheep-cheep]

Is her comb and cheeks going really red that is a sure sign

 

[tiffnichole20]

Is her comb and cheeks going really red that is a sure sign

They get red then they go back to the color they were.

 

[Cheep-cheep]

They get red then they go back to the color they were.

My chickens went dark red and they stayed red and still are dark red and are sitting