Sick Chicken

[Danushko]

I have a 6 month old Hyline brown chicken that up to a week ago was doing perfect. Now she sits in the nesting box clucking rhythmically with her body shaking. It has been 3 days now and she hasn't laid an egg. Does this sound like she is egg bound? She is still eating and drinking and occasionally running around the yard but then she goes right back to the nesting box. Any suggestions?

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

Feel her abdomen, right next to her vent. Does it feel enlarged, or slightly hard? Now, you say shaky, how shaky? Is she puffing her self up?

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she may be broody. That is when they decide they want to sit on eggs to hatch them. You can check her shest feathers to see if she is pulling those out to better connect with eggs underneath her. They sit trance-like and may cluck or peck at you if you try to distub her. If you sit an egg down opin front of her in the nest box, they will pull it under them. Once or twice a day, they will go out and get a drink or bite to eat, and may take a quick dust bath. If she is not doing these things, then she may be sick. If she is broody, either collect some eggs and set them under her all the same day, or break her in a dog crate with no bedding, but with food and water. Don’t forget to date the eggs the day you place them under her.

 

[Danushko]

It sounds like she may be broody. That is when they decide they want to sit on eggs to hatch them. You can check her shest feathers to see if she is pulling those out to better connect with eggs underneath her. They sit trance-like and may cluck or peck at you if you try to distub her. If you sit an egg down opin front of her in the nest box, they will pull it under them. Once or twice a day, they will go out and get a drink or bite to eat, and may take a quick dust bath. If she is not doing these things, then she may be sick. If she is broody, either collect some eggs and set them under her all the same day, or break her in a dog crate with no bedding, but with food and water. Don’t forget to date the eggs the day you place them under her.

 

[Danushko]

I think it does sound like she is broody. I guess we will have to try and break up the chicken. We will put her in a crate with food and water. Do we put her in the crate away from the other chickens or can we put it in the run? and How long do we keep her there?

 

[Danushko]

Feel her abdomen, right next to her vent. Does it feel enlarged, or slightly hard? Now, you say shaky, how shaky? Is she puffing her self up?

 

[Danushko]

She was just clucking constantly so now someone wrote and said maybe she is broody so does seem like that so we are going to try separating her from the nesting box and see what happens. Thank you for your response.

 

[Mariakissinger132]

i would not just so if she does hatch any chicks she can be with them by herself but i am not an expert so id wait on that

 

[Mariakissinger132]

i would not just so if she does hatch any chicks she can be with them by herself but i am not an expert so id wait on that

sorry i mean i would sepperate her but not put her in the run

 

[Eggcessive]

She can remain with the others inside the coop or run, or outside during the day in her dog crate. Some put the crates upside down on blocks to cool the air underneath. If your crate is large enough for a roost, that is better. My broodies go into a large pen with a roost and dirt floor outside. They spend the days pecking around, eating, and get on the roosts when idle or sleeping. I usually keep them 3-4 days, but some require 5 days. If I let them out and they go back to a nest box, they go back for a couple more days.