Strange behavior just odd or ill? UPDATE She died.

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

And you all told me it was just goofy chicken not broody hen. But, now I am worried.

My EE hen is just acting strange. She stays away from the flock and seems sluggish and slow. She keeps laying down like she's just too tired to stand. I thought she was getting broody but she doesn't stay where she is and she does follow the flock. Her face had been quite red and now, to me it seems paler than it had been.

Her feathers look fine, her eyes look fine, she doesn't have any drips or mites. She doesn't seem bound up. She's never laid yet so I don't think she's egg bound. I felt around her vent, there's nothing hard there, but she let me do it with no protest at all.....

What could be wrong with her? Is she sick or just weird?

I posted this under behavior and was told to move it here that she's probably ill. What to do??

 

[spook]

Wow, I'd be concerned too. This sounds like she is getting ready to lay, doesn't it. Is she eating ok? Perhaps you should isolate her to make sure she is eating and bowels are working correctly and ample water if you have to many birds it happens that we cannot keep enough time on one bird (which could be better for us- lol) . I hope that with me commenting someone will hop on that knows more then myself.
Good luck!

 

[Pumpkinpup]

I would put her someplace away from my main flock and watch her very closely. This does not sound good to me. I hope it's nothing and she can safely be put back with the others soon but better safe than sorry I always say! Good Luck!

 

[justusnak]

I would definately isolate her for a few days to get a better look at her feed/water intake, and her poo. Maybe she is just starting to moult!? Hope she is feeling better soon!

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

I am afraid she's grieving. Do chickens grieve? Her sister was killed by a falcon three days ago......

I am afraid to isolate her for fear it'll just make her worse.

But, no she's not eating. I feed them outside the coop usually and she doesn't want to come out.

What could it be?

It seems unlikely she would decide to lay now that it is cold and the days are short, doesn't it??

 

[Guitartists]

Is there a possibility that she was involved in the attack and was injured?

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

I checked her over pretty thoroughly. She seems fine. No blood anywhere. No sign of injury, just listless. She let me check her over thoroughly without any struggle at all and usually she is not a fan of being touched at all! She just sat there.....

 

[ears73]

I have a hen that seems similar to yours. I am concerned that separating her will make her more listless, to use your word...... Mine is a white cochin and her face looks very pale. She is not foraging around as much as the rest of the bunch she hangs out with and keeps closing her eyes to fall asleep while she stands there. What a bummer! It seems like mine might be sad as well? We gave away the head roo last week.

Keep us posted with what you did/are doing. I am curious if they get lonely when separated. Also, the house is way warmer than the coop, will she acclimate to the inside temp and -if well after a little while (days??) and moved outside again, will she be able to handle the change?

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Ears I was worried about the same thing.

When I had to separate a wounded bird (the others pecked her badly) she nearly killed herself trying to escape! Despite the fact that the others had done the damage she was distraught until I let her back with the flock!

I know they don't hibernate, but do some just sort of - slow down when it gets cold?

She didn't eat at all today that I saw. How many days of not eating before I HAVE to intervene?

 

[CarriBrown]

They do grieve, so I'm wondering if that's it. Poor girl. How would she react to some one on one time with you? Maybe some scrambled egg with tomatoes will get her to eat?