sick or broody?

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

~~has anyone of you had a hen you couldn't figure out if she was sick or broody?

 

[PineSummit]

No, I usually can tell if a hen is sick or broody.

If the hen seems lethargic, stands in one area a lot and is easy to catch, there is usually something wrong. It could just be something minor.

If a hen is broody, she'll act like other hens when off of her nest. Most of the time they'll be a little more energetic. I have some hens that "explode" with excitement and fly all over the place during their daily break from the nest.

Why do you ask?

 

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

I have a almost 10 month old Jersey Giant that has always laid well never no problems. She has all of a sudden not laying, slow going, not eating much, poops a lot of times but small amounts sometimes then big ones, they are mostly green and yellow any where from runny to gooey. she is pecking at her feathers a lot even the bottom of her foot but nothing is there. she isn't eating good, keep going back and forth to the nest she has slept on it twice. I let everyone out this morning I sat her out she ate a little grass took a drink of water and went back to the coop and is sitting in there not on the nest. someone told me she sounded broody but I don't know because she is puffin up and squaking and all that stuff. they said some hens don't do like that. she is a little more clucky whn the others come around. I was worried she was egg bound. I felt her tummy don't feel anything I have soaked her in prob 3 warm baths mineral oil in her bottom. I tried to do the exam to feel an egg but when I touched her vent and put my finger in just a smige she acted like she wanted to squat down and get something out. im confused I don't know what the problem is.

 

[PineSummit]

What you just described sounds like a broody to me. The distinct clucking, puffing up, large poops, squawking, lack of appetite, running back into the coop, stopping laying, etc. are all characteristics of a broody hen.

As to why she squatted, are you sure it wasn't becasue you were checking her vent?

 

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

What you just described sounds like a broody to me. The distinct clucking, puffing up, large poops, squawking, lack of appetite, running back into the coop, stopping laying, etc. are all characteristics of a broody hen.

As to why she squatted, are you sure it wasn't becasue you were checking her vent?

no, I didn't say she was squaking or puffing up, she isn't doing those things and the clucking isn't a lot its mildclucking I hardly even got my finger in just barely matter of fact just when I touched her vent she did like that.