Is my chicken unwell or just feeling the cold?

[Equiem]

Gertrude is an ex-battery hen who is almost 2.5yrs old (rescued in March last year). She has had a couple of health hiccups - nothing major. Currently laying sporadically, maybe had 1 egg from her in the past couple of weeks - can't feel any egg in oviduct (hoping there's no egg peritonitis but abdomen doesn't feel squishy) Comb okay. Crop okay. Fluffy bum feathers are a bit sparse at the moment.

So in the UK it's the first "heavy" snowfall since I've rescued them (I use the "heavy" because know in states of the USA, snowfall is much much worse)
She came out as normal this morning and gobbled some warm food but when I went up to see them a little later, she was back in the coop. Not puffed up and not looking sorry for herself, but just standing there.
In their pen, they have a gazebo which covers the coop and provides them with a fairly large area of shelter from the chilly wind and snow.
Later on, when I went up again, she still in the coop so I picked her out and plopped her on the floor and she ate a little more warm food (this time with added spinach!) then.... back in the coop she went.
She also gobbled some cheese when I took her into my house to give her a quick check over.

Through my experience (and I have had to learn a LOT in the past year), it seems like illness but she looks to me like she is otherwise okay and this has only occurred today after the snowfall.

So fellow BYC owners, do you think this is a weather thing or an illness thing?
My little mind is so very confused! Any suggestions or advice are very much welcomed!

 

[Wezdin]

What exactly makes you think she is ill? The cold will slow them down.

 

[Equiem]

What exactly makes you think she is ill? The cold will slow them down.

Only the fact that she has been inside the coop for the majority of the day. The only time my girls have spend prolonged periods of time in the coop is if they have been unwell.

I do tend to panic and overthink things during my "firsts" with the girls and this is my first winter so not entirely sure what the norm is

 

[Wezdin]

It is probable that she is just cold and doesn't want to get her feet cold in the snow. Unless someone says otherwise I think that she just does'nt like walking in snow.

 

[Melky]

What are your temps? cuz my girls go back and forth from run to coop if let out because we are below or at freezing point. Mine go in coop where heat is. I keep fireproof heat source in coop when below freezing and my coop is winterized. My girls stay happy and are still laying. Your girl may have good instincts to stay out of bad weather. If eating active and drinking then probably ok. Without much symptoms not much to go on.

 

[Equiem]

It is probable that she is just cold and doesn't want to get her feet cold in the snow. Unless someone says otherwise I think that she just does'nt like walking in snow.

They have a sheltered part of their pen that is completely snow-free so she doesn't actually have to come into contact with the snow at all anyways
They are all in bed now, her crop isn't as full as the others but there's a little food in it.
I'm working all weekend so will get my mum to keep an eye on her and just hope she perks up once the snow has melted

 

[Equiem]

What are your temps? cuz my girls go back and forth from run to coop if let out because we are below or at freezing point. Mine go in coop where heat is. I keep fireproof heat source in coop when below freezing and my coop is winterized. My girls stay happy and are still laying. Your girl may have good instincts to stay out of bad weather. If eating active and drinking then probably ok. Without much symptoms not much to go on.

We aren't below freezing at the moment. The other day is was -6 degC. Today it is 2 degC. The coop has some added wind breaks and a foil layer on top of the actual roof to add a little extra warmth. She only really ate when I picked her out the coop and put her on the floor. I will get my mum to keep an eye on her over the weekend whilst I'm at work and I will reevaluate on Monday when hopefully the snow has begun to melt and the weather is a little warmer. It is expected to be between 8 and 10 degC from Mon-Fri of next week.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

ex-battery hen who is almost 2.5yrs old

What do you normally feed your hens?
Do they have oyster shell free choice?

You felt inside the vent for an egg?
Can she poop at all - what does that look like?
Photos of how she is standing may be helpful.

 

[Equiem]

What do you normally feed your hens?
Do they have oyster shell free choice?

You felt inside the vent for an egg?
Can she poop at all - what does that look like?
Photos of how she is standing may be helpful.

They are on heygates layers pellets with a handful of corn in the afternoon
They do have oystershell as a free choice as well as grit

I did gently feel inside her vent for an egg and felt nothing - and then she proceeded to poop on me! Her poop is "normal", firm, formed, brown/green in colour with the white urates.
It's 5:30pm here now and they are all away for the night now so can't take any photos. But her posture has been normal, like how she would be standing outside, she's not standing like a penguin which I know is a worrying sign!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They are on heygates layers pellets with a handful of corn in the afternoon
They do have oystershell as a free choice as well as grit

I did gently feel inside her vent for an egg and felt nothing - and then she proceeded to poop on me! Her poop is "normal", firm, formed, brown/green in colour with the white urates.
It's 5:30pm here now and they are all away for the night now so can't take any photos. But her posture has been normal, like how she would be standing outside, she's not standing like a penguin which I know is a worrying sign!

Well, without any other symptoms, all you can really do is monitor her for several days.
See that the crop is empty in the mornings, that she's lice/mite free and that she's eating/drinking well.

Hope all goes well for you