Last night I noticed one of my hens lying down on the ground when I went out to put the girls to bed. This morning, when I went to let them out, there was a broken soft shelled egg in the hen house and shortly after she went into the run, she went and lay down in a corner. She has moved to various parts of the run, but just keeps laying down. I sprinkled some scratch in the run and she was eager to eat it. At one point, she had her head in her feathers like she was sleeping.
I went out a little while later and she got up to come say hello.
There was one instance of runny poo (I don't know which hen was responsible) and there is a little blood in it, but not a lot. Also not sure whose egg was in the house this morning, but my suspicion would be that it is the lethargic hen.
She is probably about 24 weeks or so (I bought her as a layer so I don't know her exact age). She is on layer pellets and she has freely available oyster shell and grit. I use pellet bedding sprinkled liberally with stall dry.
The other two hens seem to be perfectly happy. This hen has been my best layer - she gives 2-3 eggs that weigh 88 grams or more. She has been happy and healthy right up until last evening. I didn't really think too much of her lying down last night because it was her bedtime.
I haven't had a chance to do a hands on check of her as I have 2 very busy toddlers to look after and won't be able to until the little ones go down for nap.
I was a bit worried about coccidiosis but I looked at the poo site and the runny poo I saw looked more like the lining shedding photo and really nothing like the coccidiosis photo.
I won't hesitate to take her to the vet if it seems warranted, but if this may be something she will get over in a day or two on her own, then I am fine with letting nature take its course.
I look forward to your insight.
Cheryl
I went out a little while later and she got up to come say hello.
There was one instance of runny poo (I don't know which hen was responsible) and there is a little blood in it, but not a lot. Also not sure whose egg was in the house this morning, but my suspicion would be that it is the lethargic hen.
She is probably about 24 weeks or so (I bought her as a layer so I don't know her exact age). She is on layer pellets and she has freely available oyster shell and grit. I use pellet bedding sprinkled liberally with stall dry.
The other two hens seem to be perfectly happy. This hen has been my best layer - she gives 2-3 eggs that weigh 88 grams or more. She has been happy and healthy right up until last evening. I didn't really think too much of her lying down last night because it was her bedtime.
I haven't had a chance to do a hands on check of her as I have 2 very busy toddlers to look after and won't be able to until the little ones go down for nap.
I was a bit worried about coccidiosis but I looked at the poo site and the runny poo I saw looked more like the lining shedding photo and really nothing like the coccidiosis photo.
I won't hesitate to take her to the vet if it seems warranted, but if this may be something she will get over in a day or two on her own, then I am fine with letting nature take its course.
I look forward to your insight.
Cheryl
