My hen is swaying

[calmeter]

I have a seven month old Olive Egger. She started laying eggs about a month or two ago and layed them away from the coop and nest boxes. She layed for about 10 days and then left her nest. Since then we haven't found where she is laying as our small flock of about 25 free range on about 8 acres during the day. Not sure if she is laying anywhere at all.

Today we have some wind and noticed she was standing by herself "swaying". Was she swaying in the wind? Watched her for a few minutes, then saw that she fell over to one side, but got up. She is standing with her legs apart and "swaying". We were able to catch her and moved her into a seperate pen. I'm not sure how to check if she is egg bound. I felt her belly and around her rear end, but didn't feel anything. She feels thinner when I pick her up, I can feel her breastbone more prominently than the other chickens. She is in her seperate pen with another chicken for company. I gave them a dish of food and they both excitedly ate. She doesnt have her feathers fluffed out. She isn't tilting her head or shaking it. Her comb looks a little paler than normal. I am concerned if she has a virus that the other chicken in the pen with her will be at risk. Maybe the whole flock is at risk!

 

[KiwiandPeachthePigeons]

Can you post a video? I think I had a few chickens that got sick like that. Is she having problems walking normally, or twisting her head around like she’s disoriented? I don’t know how to treat it, nor do I know if it’s contagious (pretty sure it is). All of the chickens who got this disease in my flock died.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a seven month old Olive Egger. She started laying eggs about a month or two ago and layed them away from the coop and nest boxes. She layed for about 10 days and then left her nest.

Today we have some wind and noticed she was standing by herself "swaying". Was she swaying in the wind? Watched her for a few minutes, then saw that she fell over to one side, but got up. She is standing with her legs apart and "swaying".

I'm not sure how to check if she is egg bound. I felt her belly and around her rear end, but didn't feel anything. She feels thinner when I pick her up, I can feel her breastbone more prominently than the other chickens. She is in her seperate pen with another chicken for company. I gave them a dish of food and they both excitedly ate

Can you get a photo of her poop and of her?

You mention that she laid about 10 days and then left her nest - was she sitting on eggs or did she just stop using the same place she was laying her egg?

To check for egg binding you will need feel inside of her vent. Put on a glove and use a small amount of lubricant, feel inside about 1-2".
The standing with legs apart could be she's egg bound or very uncomfortable with trying to lay and egg. A lot of times if they have a reproductive disorder they can stand like that too, but she's young so let's hope that's not it.

The swaying is concerning. Is she acting lethargic? She was excited to eat, so I wonder if she's not been eating and drinking well. I would keep her hydrated, warm, check inside the vent, look her over for lice/mites and get a good look at her poop.

 

[calmeter]

Can you get a photo of her poop and of her?

You mention that she laid about 10 days and then left her nest - was she sitting on eggs or did she just stop using the same place she was laying her egg?

To check for egg binding you will need feel inside of her vent. Put on a glove and use a small amount of lubricant, feel inside about 1-2".
The standing with legs apart could be she's egg bound or very uncomfortable with trying to lay and egg. A lot of times if they have a reproductive disorder they can stand like that too, but she's young so let's hope that's not it.

The swaying is concerning. Is she acting lethargic? She was excited to eat, so I wonder if she's not been eating and drinking well. I would keep her hydrated, warm, check inside the vent, look her over for lice/mites and get a good look at her poop.

She’s not acting lethargic, just seems to have a balance issue.
She was not sitting on the eggs she had been laying. Just keeping them in a separate area from all the other chickens. We didn’t want to have a bunch of baby chicks right now, so my husband would take one egg a day out. She eventually abandoned that nest. So I dont know if she had started a new secret hiding place. I kinda think she just quit laying all together. We are in Florida so it’s springtime here. I have some other Young hens who have started laying too.

 

[calmeter]

Can you post a video? I think I had a few chickens that got sick like that. Is she having problems walking normally, or twisting her head around like she’s disoriented? I don’t know how to treat it, nor do I know if it’s contagious (pretty sure it is). All of the chickens who got this disease in my flock died.

No, she’s not twisting her head around, nor is she swaying with her head.

 

[Eggcessive]

My chickens will get blown about in heavy wind, but your pullet sounds like she is a little weak or dehydrated. It is good that you have her separated with a friend and she is eating/drinking well. Seeing some droppings or noting if they are runny or discolored would help. I agree with @Wyorp Rock that she might be weak from being kept from food or she might be low in pecking order. If you have a makeshift nest box or can just pile a little shavings in confinement for her, you might be able to tell if she is laying. If you don’t have any, Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell are good vitamin/electrolyte tonics that you can give a weak chicken. I would check inside her vent for a stuck egg, and just watch her. Normal would feel just soft inside. If you ever feel a stuck egg, placing her on a warm towel on top of a low heating pad would be good.

 

[calmeter]

My chickens will get blown about in heavy wind, but your pullet sounds like she is a little weak or dehydrated. It is good that you have her separated with a friend and she is eating/drinking well. Seeing some droppings or noting if they are runny or discolored would help. I agree with @Wyorp Rock that she might be weak from being kept from food or she might be low in pecking order. If you have a makeshift nest box or can just pile a little shavings in confinement for her, you might be able to tell if she is laying. If you don’t have any, Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell are good vitamin/electrolyte tonics that you can give a weak chicken. I would check inside her vent for a stuck egg, and just watch her. Normal would feel just soft inside. If you ever feel a stuck egg, placing her on a warm towel on top of a low heating pad would be good.

Funny, she’s the only one who looked like she was being pushed around by the wind. She actually walks like she just got off a week long cruise and has to catch herself. Or spent a night out drinking.
I gave her some vitamins and electrolytes for poultry in her water. Also sprinkled some calcium on some food. She is out eating bugs and all kinds of things in a very lush Florida yard all day long, so I would think she has enough calcium in her diet. I didn’t see any remarkable poops in the pine shavings she’s on. But will look more tomorrow and try to get pictures. All in all, she seems perky and alert. Her tail is up high and her feathers are smooth.