- Jul 9, 2014
- 13
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My son recently decided that he wanted add to our flock for part of his birthday gift! (Love that boy, lol!) We bought 3 hens from a local guy- 1 RIR, and 2 RIR/Leghorn crosses. The RIR (Dusty) and one of the crosses (Maggie) started laying for us right away, nearly every day. They're funny girls, very personable. The third, Fiona (my FiFi), is the problem. She has never laid yet, and we've had her for 3 weeks. She seems to have no...spunk. She stays in one place most of the time, although she is allowed to free range. She acknowledges me with little noises, but doesn't follow me around begging for attention like our other 7 birds do. She always has her shoulders hunched up, and she just looks, I don't know, sad? That was concerning enough, but I've noticed that her comb looks paler and paler, and now, it appears to be covered in a white powdery substance. It looks like it's terribly dry. She does not appear to be molting. I also don't think it's weather related, since the weather here in Western PA has been beautiful. Maybe she's old? If that's it, she'll just live out her days here- I don't care what my husband says, I will never put any of my girls in the pot!
I treat my chickens like babies, so it really breaks my heart to see her like this. She just isn't happy. The other chickens don't try to hurt her, but I've noticed that the past two nights, she's been kicked off the roost...she huddles on the floor of the coop. What can I do for my girl? It's not about getting her to lay- I just want her to be healthy and happy.
I treat my chickens like babies, so it really breaks my heart to see her like this. She just isn't happy. The other chickens don't try to hurt her, but I've noticed that the past two nights, she's been kicked off the roost...she huddles on the floor of the coop. What can I do for my girl? It's not about getting her to lay- I just want her to be healthy and happy.