pullet with tail down

[wwtamm]

Just got 6 pullets on Friday, they are 9 weeks old now. 1 of the speckled sussex started standing around today with her tail down. I have picked her up and checked her over and don't see anything wrong. Saw her eat and drink. Not sure if something is wrong but I don't want to wait until its too late. Would love some feedback. Thanks

 

[aart]

Is her belly swollen, vent look OK??
If it continues for more than a day.....

I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen for squishy or hard
swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[wwtamm]

Is her belly swollen, vent look OK??
If it continues for more than a day.....

I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen for squishy or hard
swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

Thanks, I put her in a crate this morning with water and wet food. Thought about getting some yogurt in case she is constipated, I read somewhere that yogurt was good. Her vent looks ok and don't think belly is swollen but will recheck.

 

[aart]

Thanks, I put her in a crate this morning with water and wet food. Thought about getting some yogurt in case she is constipated, I read somewhere that yogurt was good. Her vent looks ok and don't think belly is swollen but will recheck.

Just keep her on plain water and regular chicken ration for a few days.
Take the feed out at night and check that her crop is full,
then check crop again in morning before giving feed to make sure it emptied....
.....and also then check her droppings to see what is what, take pics of droppings.

 

[wwtamm]

Just keep her on plain water and regular chicken ration for a few days.
Take the feed out at night and check that her crop is full,
then check crop again in morning before giving feed to make sure it emptied....
.....and also then check her droppings to see what is what, take pics of droppings.

ok, thanks