Need to know if my Rhode Island Red is normal

[i love eggs]

I just bought 8 Rhode Island reds last Monday. They all looked the same but the last two days one of them has had her tail feathers pointed down. She looks and acts ok other than this. She does seem to be at the bottom of the pecking order. I'm worried though that I may need to separate her? Any help would be appreciated as I am completely new to chickens.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Do separate her if she is being pecked on, chickens will often pick on sick birds, definitely give her a good over all exam, especially check her vent and abdomen, tail pointing down in a hen that usually has it up often means there is some egg problem. You might want to post about her in the Emergencies forum if you find anything www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures
You might like to check out the BYC Learning Center, lots of good articles on all aspects of chicken keeping you might find helpful. https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

 

[i love eggs]

Thanks Kelsie. What does an egg problem mean and how would I fix that.

 

[drumstick diva]

Depends on what the egg problem is. Do her eggs look normal? Or does she sometimes have shell less eggs? etc. Has she always carried her tail low, or is this a new behavior. How is she otherwise? Does she eat, drink and be active during the day? Or does she stay in one place and not engage in regular chicken activity (digging and scratching the ground)?

 

[i love eggs]

She looked normal for the first two days and her tail has drooped the last two. She acts completely normal just like the others. She hasn't laid any eggs yet .

 

[gander007]

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Just keep an eye on her. Some birds do hang their tails and some never do. Since these are new birds, you will learn their body habits over time. As long as she is eating, drinking and acting ok, then she may be just fine. However if she is the lowest in the pecking order, she may not be getting enough to eat or drink during this stressful time. So you might want to put out more water and feeding stations to make sure she gets enough.

I hope this hen is going to be ok. Welcome to our flock!

 

[i love eggs]

Thanks everyone.

 

[enola]

If she is new on the property I would suspect coccidia since she is looking 'off' on the 4th day.

You should probably separate her to see how much she is eating and drinking and what her poop looks like. Remember poop does not have to have blood in it to be coccidia.

 

[sourland]

If she is eating, drinking, pooping and acting normal other than the tail set, I would just keep an eye on her. Treatment for coccidia would not hurt, and might be what is needed.