So, I've got five hens - an easter egger, two Australorps and two buff Orpingtons. They've been routinely laying 4-5 eggs a day and seem to be healthy enough. They get out of their 6x10 run several days a week for at least a few hours and overall they've been doing well.
In the past week, however, one of the Orpingtons has just been hanging out in one of the nesting boxes all the time - at least all the time that I stop by the henhouse to check on them. I don't think she has laid any eggs in the past 4 days (at least before Christmas eve) and I don't know that she's ever leaving the box - at least not for any length of time.
I opened the back of the nesting boxes up and picked her up and looked her over - she didn't see agitated or anything but definitely just wanted to sit. Typically the others will run around if I set them down. She just sat down on the ground. I looked at her feet and vent and didn't see anything interesting. It was weird that she just sat down, though.
They have plenty of food and water and the henhouse stays pretty clean (for a henhouse).
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Matt
In the past week, however, one of the Orpingtons has just been hanging out in one of the nesting boxes all the time - at least all the time that I stop by the henhouse to check on them. I don't think she has laid any eggs in the past 4 days (at least before Christmas eve) and I don't know that she's ever leaving the box - at least not for any length of time.
I opened the back of the nesting boxes up and picked her up and looked her over - she didn't see agitated or anything but definitely just wanted to sit. Typically the others will run around if I set them down. She just sat down on the ground. I looked at her feet and vent and didn't see anything interesting. It was weird that she just sat down, though.
They have plenty of food and water and the henhouse stays pretty clean (for a henhouse).
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Matt