I have 4 hens, two 3y/o and two 6+ y/o. A few days ago one of my hens died, she was close to 7y/o maybe older. Before she died I noticed she was acting a little odd, I went to check to make sure she had food late at night and she was standing up in the corner instead of roosting or sitting on the floor or in the nesting box. She was awake but didn’t acknowledge that I opened the door and shined a flashlight in her coop (normally she would at least move her head or make some soft clucks). A few days before that she was standing outside in the yard not moving. After an hour or so I went out to see if she was ok and she started walking around and clicking but still seemed sluggish. She was in an adjacent coop to my other 4 because she would always get picked on until she was laying on the ground all bloody. So for about 4 months she lived alone. I don’t believe this is related to my current hens odd behavior but figured it should be mentioned.
Today, I let my girls out to scratch around in a pen I have for them (they can’t be free range because the town doesn’t allow it in my area, plus I have a lot of loose dogs and won’t risk it. One of my 3 y/o wouldn’t come out. She just stood inside all puffed up with her wings drooping. She didn’t want anything to do with food either. She stood there and wouldn’t move. Over the last few hours she’s walked around but has the same posture and went she does move to a different area inside the fully enclosed run she moved very sluggish. She occasionally closes her eyes about 90% of the way and holds them like that for a few seconds instead of a normal quick blink. I attached pictures. I know I’ve read something about this before but I can’t remember what it meant or how serious it was. After already losing one this week I’m really concerned!!!
I attached some pictures!
Thank you!!
