Sleepy Australorp? Sick or getting ready to lay?

[kellykate]

I have seven 21 week old pullets. They spend time in a run during the day, free-range during the afternoon and are locked up safe and sound in the coop at night.

Everyone seems pretty normal. My Campine has been squatting for about a week and I heard the egg song once from the Australorp but...no eggs yet.

For the past couple days the Australorp follows the flock and continues to eat but is always sitting down. She sits in the run and when they are out free-ranging. I am worried she may not be feeling well -- any ideas?

 

[chookchick]

Does she look like she is practicing nesting--making a nice little round hole, throwing mulch or straw around--or is she just sitting like she is tired? How does the color of her comb look?

 

[kellykate]

Yes, she looks as if she is sitting on a nest. If they are out she nibbles the grass around her while sitting down. Inside the coop she seems to throw the shavings around a bit. Her comb is a pretty, deep red and she seems to be more talkative. Like I said she is eating and drinking ok which makes me feel better - but all this sitting still has me a bit nervous!

 

[Judy]

I'd guess she is getting ready to lay. Sounds like nesting behavior to me.

 

[kellykate]

Do you think everything is ok though -- she has been doing this for a few days now. She doesn't scratch around much in the run -- she just sits and everyone walks around her?

 

[kellykate]

Ok now it has almost been a week since she started this -- no egg and doesn't look to be nesting behavior. Just a lot of sitting and she seems to walk with her tail down a bit. She did sing the egg song before she started doing this but there wasn't an egg --so I just figured she was practicing. Do you think there is an egg stuck or something?

 

[Happy Chooks]

My RIR sung and practiced for 3 days before I got her 1st egg.