Playing hooky for attention?

[Roxas13]

Has anyone else ever seen a chicken acting sick in the coop, but as soon as you bring her in, she seems fine? I had a 7 week old bantam baby acting super lethargic and poofy when I was sitting in their coop with the rest of her little flock of 6 bantams. The other chicks were acting normal: chasing each other around, hopping up on my lap, scratching and pecking at the ground. But the one little baby was not acting right. So I decided to bring her in overnight to keep and eye on her, but just a few minutes after coming inside, she perked right up and is acting fine. Could she have been acting sick for attention? Do chickens even do that?? Any info helps, thanks!

 

[cherrynberry]

Has anyone else ever seen a chicken acting sick in the coop, but as soon as you bring her in, she seems fine? I had a 7 week old bantam baby acting super lethargic and poofy when I was sitting in their coop with the rest of her little flock of 6 bantams. The other chicks were acting normal: chasing each other around, hopping up on my lap, scratching and pecking at the ground. But the one little baby was not acting right. So I decided to bring her in overnight to keep and eye on her, but just a few minutes after coming inside, she perked right up and is acting fine. Could she have been acting sick for attention? Do chickens even do that?? Any info helps, thanks!

I dont believe a chicken would do that...what symptoms did she show?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

She may be being bullied and being away from the bird intimidating her helped her perk up

 

[CoopsNPoops]

Acting for attention may not be a thing with chickens, but depression is. I agree with the above comment. She may just be being bullied or being left out. Or feeling left out.

 

[Roxas13]

I dont believe a chicken would do that...what symptoms did she show?

Fluffed up feathers, lethargic, drooped tail, and had her neck tucked in. Just looked like she wasn't feeling well.

 

[Roxas13]

She may be being bullied and being away from the bird intimidating her helped her perk up

Oh that's a very real possibility. She is, from what I've seen, bottom of the pecking order.

 

[cherrynberry]

Fluffed up feathers, lethargic, drooped tail, and had her neck tucked in. Just looked like she wasn't feeling well.

As long as she is eating and drinking it will be fine.

 

[aart]

So I decided to bring her in overnight to keep and eye on her, but just a few minutes after coming inside, she perked right up and is acting fine.

Maybe it was warmer inside?