My EE Pullet is acting funny....any advice?

[juliemom25]

Hey there, I have a 13 week old EE pullet that is acting funny. I first noticed it yesterday when I was cleaning out the coop. She was overly friendly with me. When all the other chickens ran she just kind of sat there. She was eager to let me pet her, which isn't the norm. She is normally nice, but not that nice. I had the drill going because I was moving the roosts and that wasn't even scaring her. She would move, but she just seemed to not care. Her tail is pointing down kind of funny also. I noticed some of the other tails pointing down occasionally, but not as much as her's does. She was panting quite a bit yesterday also, but many of the hens were because we were stressing them out while cleaning.

They are in a well ventilated coop with plenty of room. They aren't outside yet at all because our run is not done. I did let a few out last week while I was working in the garden and she could have been one of them. She seems to eat and drink fine and her vent looks normal. Can anyone help? I really care about this little girl and I want to help her if she needs it.......

Thanks!

Julie

Edited to add more info.....

-There are no signs of injury or trauma
-She eats medicated chick feed and drinks water. They all get occasional treats like scrambled eggs, veggies
-Poop looks normal, although it's hard to tell which poo is hers
-No treatment thus far
-We use a little straw and corrugated/chipboard slots for bedding (it is scrap at my husband's business, it is just essentially paper).

 

[ChooksChick]

It sounds as though she's a bit old for medicated feed- your next bag you might go ahead and get layer feed, because it sounds almost as though she's point-of-lay!

Does she squat when you reach to pet her? Has her comb become red recently?

If not that, I'm not sure what- it is a bit early for layng, but stranger things have been known to happen!

 

[juliemom25]

DO they bend their tails when they are getting ready to lay?

She does seem to squat when I pet her and her comb seems about the same size and color as before.

Julie

 

[ChooksChick]

My hens' tail carriage seems to change when they hit that point, and when they cop-a-squat, they rally stop, hit the deck, and slightly raise their wings. It's a submissive posture, but it also serves to put them in position for mating.

I'm not sure what else could cause sudden friendliness and tail posture change- those are symptoms of maturing. I have heard of a first egg at 14 weeks, so maybe she's just very close!

 

[juliemom25]

THanks Renee for your replies! I hope you are right because I really want her to be ok!

Julie

 

[ChooksChick]

You're very welcome, and I hope someone else chimes in if I've missed something!

 

[chickenbottom]

i would allow them in the nest boxes now she sounds close my ee/ameraucana she acts the same but is 23 weeks but the comb isnt even pink its like a brown color shes just super sweet maybe its ust a ee thing lol