Laid back, lazy, or sick?

[MichelleKing]

Just got two gorgeous 12 week old polish hens last week to round out at 6 hens total. 5 of my chickens are out in the run at dawn (auto chicken door), and those same 5 are back in at dusk.

However, my one polish Hen, Flower, is super chill and I can't tell if she's sick, laid back, lazy, or what? She will remain in the coop perched and sleeping in and eating for awhile after dawn breaks. I have to kick her out into the run to clean the coop.

Last night when I came home, it was dark. I went to go check on the coop and I found her on her perch, completely asleep and passed out. I gently woke her up. The chicken door had shut for the night so I had to carry her to the coop.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Daytime behavior: comes up to me always, loves to be held and pet, will lay in the grass and chill, eating normally, drinking normally, no sneezing or coughing, checked all stools for worms (none found), all stools look normal in color and consistency. Doesn't appear to be mouth breathing or gasping for breath. I'm just confused.

Laid back, lazy, or you guys think she's sick with something? If she IS sick, should I admin some vitamin drops as well as medicate?

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

It sounds like she is perfectly healthy. Just lives by her own clock. I, too, have one that likes to lay in the sun and relax. The first time he flopped over on his side in the sun I thought something was wrong. But he just likes it.
I also have some that go to roost earlier and later than others. Drives Hank crazy, he won't roost until all the girls are up.
My 2 girls that are laying so far are also lunchtime layers. No early bird in my coop.

 

[aart]

2 new birds a week ago....how did you integrate them?
Any fighting between new and existing birds?
How old are existing birds?
How is the other new bird behaving?

I went to go check on the coop and I found her on her perch, completely asleep and passed out. I gently woke her up. The chicken door had shut for the night so I had to carry her to the coop.

Where is this 'perch'?

How big is your coop and run?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.

I'm guessing this bird is low in the pecking order and is avoiding the other birds...and it's only been a week, which is not long for integration.

Welcome to BYC!
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Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
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[Shorty22366]

I have a polish hen that does all the exact things you are describing. I think polish live on their own time lines. Lol

 

[MichelleKing]

I have a polish hen that does all the exact things you are describing. I think polish live on their own time lines. Lol

Yes she is so laid back and they both actually did it again last night. Had to carry them both to the coop after dark LOL!

 

[MichelleKing]

2 new birds a week ago....how did you integrate them?
Any fighting between new and existing birds?
How old are existing birds?
How is the other new bird behaving?


Where is this 'perch'?

How big is your coop and run?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.

I'm guessing this bird is low in the pecking order and is avoiding the other birds...and it's only been a week, which is not long for integration.

Welcome to BYC!
Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
View attachment 1524555

Hi!

So I have a two story coop with three nesting boxes inside, dont know exact dimensions would hve to look them up.

Integration: kept all birds in the run together when I got them, separated by chicken wire so they could see eachother. No fighting or fussiness observed. Around 9pm allowed them into the coop all together. The birds are getting along FANTASTIC. The polish hens mind their business and seem to have befriended my ameraucana. They seem to be in the middle of the pecking order. No problems eating or drinking, or getting to the worms. The deathlayer is the one who is the lowest it seems and does get picked on a little.

Run is huge. I would say 15 feet by 8 feet. All fenced in on two sides, wire on top and on two sides (we have a hawks). Have a stand alone fully closed in rollout nesting box with curtains in the run.

Perches are home made, they are 18' high and 32 inches long, and 12' high and 30 inches long. Birds LOVE LOVE LOVE them especially the polish and deathlayer. They are one side of the run and the perches are next to eachother.

All birds are young. Orpington and RIR under a year, deathlayer 12 weeks, polish hens 12 weeks, ameraucana 11 weeks.

 

[aart]

I'm very surprised there was no fighting at integration,
(and they were only separated in run for a day then went peacefully into coop at night?)
polish are often picked on due to their 'hair-do's'.

Usually when birds roost outside coop it's because of pecking order and/or not enough roost space in coop.

15x8 is a good sized run for 6 birds.
Is it protected against the winter weather?

Can't wait to see pics!