Pullet acting strange- sick? Is it possible to be only partially broody?

[Emilyrich]

Hello, I have a 10 month old laying pullet (white rock) who has been acting strange. For a few weeks she has been acting broody, but only sometimes. Some days she spends hours in the nesting box, flattened out and cranky like she is broody, but then she comes out voluntarily and goes about her business with the others. We have no rooster so we collect the eggs while she is out. She is still laying every day.

This was curious behavior but not worrying until today. She is acting very lethargic and strange. She did come out to the tractor with the others, but walked very slow and didn"t even try for the corn I was giving them. This is very unusual. She walked around a bit with her beak open, so at first I thought something was stuck in there, but she did go for one bite of grass and swallowed normally. Does the open beak mean she's not drinking enough water? Now all the other 4 are happily pecking the ground while she is just standing there with her bottom kind of smushed down looking sad. She did have a pretty normal looking poo right after I put her out there, so I don't think she is egg bound, but does anyone have any ideas? Also has anyone heard of a hen being 'partially' broody like that before?

 

[KaylorFarms]

I think maybe she is going broody or she has trouble laying eggs.

 

[KaylorFarms]

I have a white rock too! could you post a pic of yours?

 

[aart]

Hello, I have a 10 month old laying pullet (white rock) who has been acting strange. For a few weeks she has been acting broody, but only sometimes. Some days she spends hours in the nesting box, flattened out and cranky like she is broody, but then she comes out voluntarily and goes about her business with the others. We have no rooster so we collect the eggs while she is out. She is still laying every day.

This was curious behavior but not worrying until today. She is acting very lethargic and strange. She did come out to the tractor with the others, but walked very slow and didn"t even try for the corn I was giving them. This is very unusual. She walked around a bit with her beak open, so at first I thought something was stuck in there, but she did go for one bite of grass and swallowed normally. Does the open beak mean she's not drinking enough water? Now all the other 4 are happily pecking the ground while she is just standing there with her bottom kind of smushed down looking sad. She did have a pretty normal looking poo right after I put her out there, so I don't think she is egg bound, but does anyone have any ideas? Also has anyone heard of a hen being 'partially' broody like that before?

I have several layers that flatten out and screech when I disturb them on the nest...they are not broody, just bitchy.

Is it hot where you are?
She may be panting from heat or stress.
Lethargy is never good, bottom dragging either.
Just because she pooped does not mean she might not be not egg bound.
I'd take a good close look at her vent and abdomen...and all over to see if you find anything abnormal.

I usually isolate a bird that acts like that for more than a day.
Put her in a crate at night with only water, check crop at night then again in morning before feeding to make sure crop is emptying.
Good way to monitor her intake and output for a day or two.
Here you can see how I set up the isolation crate:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/foldable-wire-dog-crates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer