I have a 24 week old BO pullet. She has been laying eggs for a couple of weeks now and I think she is still laying eggs. Going to keep her in the "hospital" for 24 hours to see. I also have 8 other chickens of different breeds and she is the only one acting odd. We have a large coop that stands 2 feet off the ground, water & feed available inside and outside. The chickens have free range over the yard. I have a mister unit that keeps the ground under the coop cool and there is lots of shade. They are all eating grower/finisher feed (3 pullets are younger and not quite ready for layer feed) and I have crushed oyster shell available at all times. I've been giving them frozen corn, peas, tomatoes and squash for treats for weeks now (I always wash off the treats to make sure that it doesn't freeze to their throats when eating). There are no obvious signs of injury, no mites or other bugs. She pooped on me when I picked her up and it was white/yellow, not stiff but I wouldn't call it diarrhea either. She is also 2nd in command and isn't being picked on.
Yesterday I noticed that she was not responding to me when I call out for treats. She was under the coop "sleeping". So I naturally got worried and went to check on her and with the help of hubby we managed to catch her. Oh yes she sort of ran from us, more like walked fast but wouldn't leave the coop grounds. She didn't struggle either when I was holding her, she usually does. I was afraid that she was over heating so brought her in the house. After about two hours she tried to get out of the "hospital" (plastic tote with a metal grate on top that I use for sick birds). So I put her back outside and she goes right back under the coop but seems fine. Walking around and bad mouthing the humans as normal. It's been very hot lately but it is actually cooler these last couple of days then it has been.
Later that night I go out to put them all to bed, which includes a head count, last egg check and securing the door. I found her in a nest box, something she has never done before. I have wooden eggs in each nest and I was wondering if she was trying to go broody. So I took the eggs out and removed her from the nest. After a good struggle of wills she finally goes and gets on a roost, she kept trying to get back in the nest.
This morning she runs out in the yard with the rest of them and scratches around... couple of hours later she is under the coop or laying next to my son's little pool appearing to be asleep. Head drooping, eyes closed and wings slightly away from body. Not panting. I checked on her every hour and she was always laying down, sleeping. Again she didn't come to my call or even acknowledge that she heard me. So again we have brought her inside and placed her in the hospital. I did see her drink but not eat. Her comb and wattle are slightly paler today but still red. She seems to be walking fine, not dragging her wings or butt.
Is the heat finally getting the best of her?
Is it early signs of going broody?
Please help she is my hubby's favorite and our only BO.
Yesterday I noticed that she was not responding to me when I call out for treats. She was under the coop "sleeping". So I naturally got worried and went to check on her and with the help of hubby we managed to catch her. Oh yes she sort of ran from us, more like walked fast but wouldn't leave the coop grounds. She didn't struggle either when I was holding her, she usually does. I was afraid that she was over heating so brought her in the house. After about two hours she tried to get out of the "hospital" (plastic tote with a metal grate on top that I use for sick birds). So I put her back outside and she goes right back under the coop but seems fine. Walking around and bad mouthing the humans as normal. It's been very hot lately but it is actually cooler these last couple of days then it has been.
Later that night I go out to put them all to bed, which includes a head count, last egg check and securing the door. I found her in a nest box, something she has never done before. I have wooden eggs in each nest and I was wondering if she was trying to go broody. So I took the eggs out and removed her from the nest. After a good struggle of wills she finally goes and gets on a roost, she kept trying to get back in the nest.
This morning she runs out in the yard with the rest of them and scratches around... couple of hours later she is under the coop or laying next to my son's little pool appearing to be asleep. Head drooping, eyes closed and wings slightly away from body. Not panting. I checked on her every hour and she was always laying down, sleeping. Again she didn't come to my call or even acknowledge that she heard me. So again we have brought her inside and placed her in the hospital. I did see her drink but not eat. Her comb and wattle are slightly paler today but still red. She seems to be walking fine, not dragging her wings or butt.
Is the heat finally getting the best of her?
Is it early signs of going broody?
Please help she is my hubby's favorite and our only BO.
