pullet

[ccm352]

Have a 16 week old RIR mix pullet.. She is acting weird. She fluffs the feathers up on the back of her head and sits down or sometimes leans to one side.. Kinda strange.. Im new to this stuff so is this a normal thing?

 

[gritsar]

That is very strange. Hope someone comes along that has some answers for you

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Is she doing anything else that is out of the ordinary? Is she eating and drinking?

 

[ccm352]

Oh yeah.. She is eating just fine and drinking ok. She walked around the yard doing her normal thing. Then I saw the feathers flare out and she leaned to one side and layed down... I thought is she laying her first egg? Then my other pullet would walk over to her and sit next to her. Theyd sit for 2 mins and then get back up and scratch away like nothing was wrong.. I saw her do this 3 times today. kinda odd..

 

[jeepers210]

Unfortunatly it sounds like coccidiosis. Keep her away from the others and observe her.

 

[aggie9296]

My Red Star pullets were doing that when they were 3 months old and just started free ranging. I kept watching and I believe they were learning how to dust bathe. They just weren't in any dirt. Now they dig a dirt hole and do the same thing and it is obvious they are dust bathing. Stretching out to one side and laying down. They are 4 months old now.

 

[ccm352]

How does one treat coccidosis

 

[wbruder17]

Was it warm or sunny? My oldest pullets like to lay themselves out on their sides and splay their wings out under the heat lamp or sun (when they go out). They are just" sunbathing" and I don't worry about it, but im not sure if this pertains to your situation.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I would also say, if she is acting normally otherwise & is laying over and stretching out, she is dust bathing or sunning herself.

 

[gmendoza]

My wife laughs whenever they do this.They splay themselfes out as far as they can stretch.