My chicken seems to have gone very quiet

[burney]

I may be worrying for nothing as I have only had my girls for just over a year, but one of my girls seems to have gone really quiet suddenly. I cannot see anything wrong with her,and she is eating and drinking. I let them all out for 1/2 an hour and she was wondering about with the others. I have noticed that when I feed them, there is one that seems to want all the food to herself and pushes the others to one side. Could this be a pecking order 'thing' and sort itself out ? or could it be a change in the weather as it has turned cold quickly.They have all got on well since I got them. Thank you. Burney.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Pecking order. The top hen will hog the food till she gets her fill.

Here is a good video on chicken behavior, especially pecking order.

The extra quiet one could still be a concern. They try to hide illness.

 

[burney]

Thank you for your help on this, apparently my chicken was feeling poorly due to her moult. I was advised to give her some oily fish - which helps the new feathers come through. I gave all the girls pilchards in oil before they retired for the night and my quiet chicken was a lot better the next morning. After a couple of days she was like new.