My new chook keeps sitting down

[mags6999]

Hiya. We got four chickens (on Monday). We've never kept chickens before but we adore them. Anyway one of them keeps sitting down on the ground. I've read she may be broody, but that broody hens sit in the coop. I'm really worried. Shes between 21 and 25 weeks old. All four have been laying eggs and we have taken them out of the nest box every day. My husband phoned the place we got them from (very reputable company) and asked if he should take her to the vets. They didn't seem too bothered and said wait until Monday. However we have noticed that her (sorry haven't learned the word yet, the crown??? on top of head is red but at the back it's floppy and pale. I can't say if she's been like that since Monday.. Any ideas, please? Also apparently there's tonics we can put in water. The chap that delivered them said it's nonsense. Does anyone have suggestions please?

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she unable to walk for long distances like she is having trouble with her legs, or does she look too weak to walk? Is she sitting puffed up or huddled most of the time? Are you sure she is laying? Could you check her for being egg bound with a rubber glove and a lubricated finger insert 1-2 inches into the vent? Is she eating and drinking, and is she having diarrhea? Some possible problems would be coccidiosis, egg bound, worms, or something neurological such as Mareks. Is she limping?

 

[mags6999]

Thanks for a prompt response.

We are totally new to chickens, hence my worry. She can walk, without a limp.... I just went outside to check on her, having put a gazebo up to give shade (FYI we're in the UK). She was up and drinking water. I haven't seen her eat yet. She is definitely not puffed up, but she seems lethargic. The trouble is we were told to keep them in the coop/run until tomorrow, so we haven't picked any of them up. I was thinking of getting the portable fencing run from omlet (where we got the chooks) which would be delivered the day after tomorrow, so that we could let the other chickens out and then pick her up. Unfortunately I wouldn't know what to do/look for.

We certainly only had three eggs today... so it may be Sandy that has stopped laying. The chooks have been vaccinated if that's of any help and we've only had them five days.

I did see her poo and it was runny and white, but not a lot of it. I need to go and observe her more. The chap from omlet who delivered them and omlet themselves have said not to go to a vet and wait until Monday...I'm panicking.

 

[mags6999]

Hiya.. I'm replying to my own thread as I am new as of a few hours ago.

Went out to watch chooks. All were up, including Sandy. Then she sat down. Just thought of putting grit in their pen... we were told it wasn't necessary and she, as too the others are gobbling it up. I'm hoping that my neglect hasn't done any damage... I feel awful. I'm keeping fingers crossed that she will now return to the fold so to speak.

One other thing, if I may, well two actually. We were told they like mealworms as treats... which we have been giving to them of an evening in the hope that they get used to us. Keira certainly has. However I read somewhere that mealworm is bad for them because of too much protein. Is this correct? Also we were told only to give them treats at the end of the day. Is this also correct?

Regards,
Margaret

 

[andreanar]

I'm fairly new to chickens too, but I have learned a few things that might help. Meal worms are fine too give them and they love them. If they do not have access to the ground/dirt, then I would def give them some grit. The first thing I would do is check her vent for being egg bound, as advised above. You can also feel if her crop is full, hard, mushy. I would start there then move on to other things if these things are ok. Good luck

 

[mags6999]

spoke too soon. Sandy's back to sitting down again. :-(

 

[mags6999]

Thank you. What does it mean if her crop (I assume that's the front of her neck?) is full? I obviously haven't researched everything

 

[andreanar]

The way I understand it, is grit stores in the crop and helps mash up food for digesting, as they can't chew with no teeth. If you haven't given grit and they have no access to dirt, they can't grind up their food and it will all impact in the crop. They can get impacted crop sometimes even if they do get grit.
Go check the vent for eggs and feel her crop for lumps. I'm interested to know what you find

 

[mags6999]

hiya. chooks are on grass however we've made an appointment with vet. will let you know outcome. also purchased net tex poultry tonic.

 

[mags6999]

Hi All and thank you very much for your responses.

I don't know how to upload a photo but have changed my avatar to show Sandy.

Update: We let chooks out this morning. Sandy still not eating. Put a separate bowl at the end of the pen... she ate! Then changed height of the food container.... she ate. I think we sadly put this at the wrong height. anyway she ate and drank, didn't sit down and wasn't lethargic.

Then Keira and Freya laid their eggs in the coop. About 45 mins later Sandy decided to go up to the coop.. She sat for about 20 mins. Connie was desperate to lay. She went up but Sandy wouldn't have any of it. Anyway to cut a long story short (at this stage lol) Sandy laid an egg and was sitting on it. We took her out and placed her in the pen, and took the egg. She went back in and sat on Connie. We removed her again. Connie laid her egg and went down to the pen.

Sandy then went back in the pen. We researched again and decided she must be broody. We shut the coop door, having got her out again, but she climbed the ladders at least four times. She then started attacking the other girls aggressively. We opened the door, let her go in and then after a while went out to buy the materials to make a separate coop with wire so that her "undercarriage could be cooled".

On our return and to our surprise she was down in the pen with the others and acting normally!!! No aggression... you would think we had imagined all this. However she did sit for a whiile and puffed up. We still think she's broody... what do you think?

Once again thank you all for your input and care. I've decided to write a blog "KFC and The Colonel" (Keira, Freya, Connie and Sandy. Purely for my amusement and a diary for our venture forward... here's hoping i can figure out how to!

Oh: breed: she's a hybrid called Miss Pepperpot... a cross between Rhode Island Red and Maran cross) as is Freya. Keira and Connie are Gingernut Rangers ... a cross between Rhode Island Red and Light Sussex Cross.

Regards
Mags x