Hi,
I have 8 laying hens and 1 rooster. 4 white leghorns and 5 buff orpington. Some days I get 7 eggs, but more often I get 5 or 6 eggs and because of the season, I am assuming, I'll get days with 4 eggs. My hens are about 7 months old and are all appearing to be fully developed. Except for one leghorn.
While the other 3 leghorns have bright nicely full developed combs and wattles, just one has an undeveloped comb and wattle. She will tend to keep away from the other hens most of the time, but will eat and does interact with them as well. Her eyes appear healthy and I see no sign of blood on her vent that would indicate sickness. But she seems to keep her head down and can be described as being "depressed". When I let them out of their tractor in the mornings she'll usually be the last one out. If I go in their pen area this one hen will approach me and stay close to my feet if i stay in one place long enough.
I am keeping them in a self built 6x8 foot chicken tractor that I run over grass. Right now I have them in a stationary spot on my .5 acre yard surrounded by a 25 square foot premier one poultry fence. Yes they free range out of the chicken tractor daily with in the fenced area. Daily I offer them free choice Dumor layer feed, 1/4 cup scratch feed and table scraps. They have easy access to free choice mana pro oyster/coral calcium. When I have the time I'll pick clover growing in the grass and also grass for them to enjoy while their on this stationary spot. Water is on a hanging chain within the chicken tractor. I am also adding wood chips from a small mulcher I have to create a deep litter for them until spring.
I am wondering if any one has any thoughts on why this one hen is underdeveloped. I don't believe she's laying regularly. Is it genetics, illness, pecking order related, a combination, or something else. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I have 8 laying hens and 1 rooster. 4 white leghorns and 5 buff orpington. Some days I get 7 eggs, but more often I get 5 or 6 eggs and because of the season, I am assuming, I'll get days with 4 eggs. My hens are about 7 months old and are all appearing to be fully developed. Except for one leghorn.
While the other 3 leghorns have bright nicely full developed combs and wattles, just one has an undeveloped comb and wattle. She will tend to keep away from the other hens most of the time, but will eat and does interact with them as well. Her eyes appear healthy and I see no sign of blood on her vent that would indicate sickness. But she seems to keep her head down and can be described as being "depressed". When I let them out of their tractor in the mornings she'll usually be the last one out. If I go in their pen area this one hen will approach me and stay close to my feet if i stay in one place long enough.
I am keeping them in a self built 6x8 foot chicken tractor that I run over grass. Right now I have them in a stationary spot on my .5 acre yard surrounded by a 25 square foot premier one poultry fence. Yes they free range out of the chicken tractor daily with in the fenced area. Daily I offer them free choice Dumor layer feed, 1/4 cup scratch feed and table scraps. They have easy access to free choice mana pro oyster/coral calcium. When I have the time I'll pick clover growing in the grass and also grass for them to enjoy while their on this stationary spot. Water is on a hanging chain within the chicken tractor. I am also adding wood chips from a small mulcher I have to create a deep litter for them until spring.
I am wondering if any one has any thoughts on why this one hen is underdeveloped. I don't believe she's laying regularly. Is it genetics, illness, pecking order related, a combination, or something else. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
