Pullet hiding in coop - is she sick or about to start laying?

[EggSighted4Life]

Thanks for asking!! She stayed in the coop or under it all day yesterday. She is out of the coop this morning but still sluggish and not herself. I inspected her pretty closely yesterday. Her crop was empty. No sign of mites or injuries. Nothing weird on her mouth, eyes, etc. She wouldn't even take meal worms from me yesterday! Normally, they lose their minds over them.

It is a rainy dreary morning here so they are all taking it easy.

I think I might have been feeding them poorly. I probably am giving them too many kitchen scraps and was feeding them layer (and letting them free range). So I bought some grower/starter feed and switched it out, and I am pulling back on the table scraps and the free ranging. I am worried they are finding random debris in the yard and eating it. I'm going to clean up the area really well and only give them a small amount of select table treats (fruits and vegies). I also noticed she was being picked on pretty hard by another feisty hen. So maybe she is a little traumatized by the bullying.

Thanks so much for all the advice! So much to learn. She is my favorite bird. A gorgeous blue Americauna with a funny personality. ("Princess Laya'") So, I'm crossing my fingers.

I love it! Princess Laya. Now I'm upset I didn't think of that one.

I got one little blue Am girl this year. Was hoping to breed as they are one of my faves, but only the 1 girl (hopefully) out of the Am's made it through shipping.

Bullying can have a definite effect, especially being pecked when you're down. Since my chickens free range they have access to the garden and I don't consider fruits and veg to be treats, though I can see how it could easily upset the balance. And if store bought may still have pesticide residues. Also I have just about every toxic plant possible on my property and I have found areas the previous owners dumped oil.

But I did my best to clear what is toxic and make sure they don't get locked in with it. But of course they wanna hop the fence and go where my neighbor uses chemicals and grows many beautiful potentially dangerous plants.

Not taking meal worms does sound serious. Glad she seems at least a touch better today.

Raising chickens is an ongoing learning process for sure. I have learned more in this past year than the previous 4 put together in that regards. And there is still so much I don't have a clue about. I am thankful for BYC!

Come on Princes Laya! It's recovery time.