Is she molting or sick?

[Alley]

Hi all,
Two days ago my 9 month old White leghorn started looking "fluffy". Yesterday she started sitting in her nesting box and wouldn't come out. When I checked on her this morning she was still in her nesting box and was not sitting on an egg. I picked her up and noticed lots of the white down type fathers under her. I brought her in the house and checked her for lice, she was clean. She ate some bread and I then put her out to free range. As I watched her, I noticed she kept picking at herself and remained fluffed up. This afternoon she was back in the nesting box and did not want to come out. Her comb is it's normal bright red color, she isn't sneezing but she isn't acting herself? Is this a molt or is she sick? Please help, I'm worried sick! I love my girls...

 

[cluckychick]

Sounds like she wants to be broody and hatch some eggs

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I was going to say the same thing until I re-read the post and saw that she was a leghorn; not known to go broody at all.
Have you checked to see if she's maybe egg bound?

 

[mtnhomechick]

My broodiest girl was a leghorn and I was shocked because they just aren't known for that. Could be broody and mini molting too. Just a guess. Does she fluff up and growl when you come near her when she's in the box?

Edited to add that I didn't even have a roo at the time........she would have hatched pine shavings I guess. Finally gave her to a woman who had a roo. I couldn't break her of it. She wasn't eating.

 

[Alley]

I have no idea how to check to see if she is egg bound? Please tell me how and I will do it first thing in the morning. I have just two girls not rooster. Can she still go broody? I feed well, black sun flower seeds, layer mash, corn, barley and fresh fruits and veggies.

Thank you!! Ya all are great and I honestly don't know what I'd do if hadn't found BYC!

 

[Alley]

What do you mean by growl... she makes noises but she is a very loud and very, very demanding hen!

 

[mtnhomechick]

Like furring up and making a get the heck outta here noise. Like she's protecting her nest. to me it sounds like a growl.

 

[Alley]

yes, she does act like that... so is she broody? If she is, do I let her just sit there? Should I put food and water in with her. My other hen didn't roost tonight and is sitting in their nesting box (if fits 2) with her.

 

[mtnhomechick]

I can't really advise you.......that's why I gave my girl away. I couldn't get her to stay out of the box and she was starving. There wasn't a fertile egg around at the time. Is she sitting on FERTILE eggs?

 

[mtnhomechick]

Quote:
Sure sounds broody to me.