something stuck?

[abip]

our speckledy layer is currently looking a little worse for wear. she is in the middle of moulting, so looks very shabby, but worse she is constantly walking round with her rear end down like she is trying to lay. picked her up and had a look as best we can, can't see anything and she's not complaining but looks so uncomfortable. please help never notice any of our other chicken doing this but new to the game only had them for just short of a year. it's been going on for about a week now. thanks

 

[miss_thenorth]

Considering the time of year--I highly doubt she is moulting.

My previous laying hens ( I have barred rocks now) were prodcution reds of an undetermined age (my guess was between two and three yo). They looked ratty in the winter, and being new to chickens, -- I thought they were moulting too. Turns out they were internal layers. One died, the rest started to lay infrequently, and the eggs they did lay were sometimes rubber eggs.

We decided to cull the birds and afterwards we looked at them to see if there was anything wrong inside. They were all internal layers, some with huge masses of what looked like (and smelled like) cooked chicken meat. Only one of them still had yolks left in her. Sometimes we would find this cooked meat -looking stuff in the nest box, they had expelled some of this.

This is what I would suspect is the problem with your hen. Mine didn't complain either, but they looked horrible, and then the laying went downhill. considering what we found inside of them--they had to be uncomfortable.

 

[LynneP]

She might be egg bound and gosh she sounds uncomfortable.
Is there any sign of pasty or cement-like droppings on her vent?

Either way she would benefit from a shallow warm water bath provided you can do this and get her dried off and warm quickly after. It would be better if two of you orchestrate this and examine her thoroughly. Poor baby sounds like she's in trouble.

 

[abip]

thank you for that! our other hens (white stars) are fine but have only just finished moulting - i know it's the wrong time of year but they are now looking glorious and happy. shame the same can't be said for their friend! will try the bath, not sure she will agree! we are getting the odd egg but generally nothing for the last few weeks. there doesn't appear to be anything on her poo wise and i haven't noticed any "cooked chicken" but will check again. poor thing i hope she is ok as she is our best layer!

 

[LynneP]

Let us know how she is doing, please!

 

[abip]

looks like she was just moulting! she is looking so much better today, missing some tail feathers still which is making her look worse but definitely on the mend! chased me for a piece of cake!

 

[LynneP]

Still, better to ask and keep watching her. She may benefit from added protein...