Odd Sapphire Gem Hen Behavior

[sunmanchicken127]

Hey everyone.

I have a Sapphire Gem henthat is about 3 yrs and 8 months old. She is now at the top of the pecking order of 9 chickens total (including her).

The past week or so, I've notice some strange behavior. She roosts hours earlier than usual (which is hours earlier than the other birds) and spends about half the day hiding away in the coop. It could be many factors but I'd like input from whoever would like to chime in.

1. We recently added 6 new hens that 18 weeks old now. She immediately established herself as the "top" chicken and doesn't squable. The new hens run away but have been friendly with her recently, even roosting next to her for the past few nights.
2. We also just expanded the coop to add 2 roosts instead of 1 to accomadate the new hens. Maybe this is throwing her off to be roosting with more chickens and the interior of the coop switching up?
3. It is now starting to average 60-70 degrees as we go into winter vs our summer being 100 degrees on average.
4. We don't have a chicken ramp and the chickens jump effortlessly about 2 feet up and down. She is out about half the day so she is making this jump, but maybe it's starting to be a bit much and just doesn't want to jump out anymore unless it's for food and water?
5. Could she just be sick? Do I need to look into quarantining her to protect the rest of the flock?

I haven't noticed anything else strange. She just doesn't really go out and hides in the nesting box / roosts early. She isn't nesting on eggs and she hasn't laid eggs in a long time.

Thanks everyone

 

[Mrs. K]

Is she the only old hen? Too me, a hen, especially a crossbred one like that, is a pretty old and may be near her end.

 

[sunmanchicken127]

Is she the only old hen? Too me, a hen, especially a crossbred one like that, is a pretty old and may be near her end.

yes she's the only old one. the others are 18 weeks and we have a few who are about 2 years old and still laying.

 

[Mrs. K]

I don't think there is anything you can do, unless you do the coup de grace. I have only had a few get that age, and they do get stiff and arthritic.

 

[crazychickenman007]

Personally I’m not sure but I’m interested to see what people have to say!

 

[sunmanchicken127]

She passed away earlier today. Seems like she was just old and it was her time.

 

[Isadora]

She passed away earlier today. Seems like she was just old and it was her time.

Aw, sorry to hear that.