Timid brown leghorn

[adpugh]

I have three brown leghorns that are about 20 weeks old. They haven't started laying yet but I expect them to start soon. Over the past few days, one of the girls has started acting very timid. She doesn't appear to be sick or injured and I haven't seen any of the other chickens (11 total including 1 rooster) bully her. She is eating and drinking and will come out to forage occasionally during the day. She just seems to want to be alone. All of our chickens free range. Any ideas what this could be about?

 

[aart]

It's hard to say....some birds are kind of loners.
She may be low hen, that doesn't necessarily means you'll see any obvious bullying.
Is she staying in the coop when the other are out foraging...and is this a new behavior?
Are the nests being checked out?

 

[adpugh]

We have five other hens who are currently laying so all of the nests are being messed with. This is new behavior. When I open the coop in the morning, she'll hang back for a few minutes and then come out while the others rush out right away. During the day she either stays under the coop or will lay under my car.

It's hard to say....some birds are kind of loners.
She may be low hen, that doesn't necessarily means you'll see any obvious bullying.
Is she staying in the coop when the other are out foraging...and is this a new behavior?
 Are the nests being checked out?

 

[aart]

Sounds like she's ether being shunned or is not feeling well.
Is she going back to roost in the coop at night?
Might be good to observe them during 'going to roost' time.
I'd get a hold of her and examine her thoroughly:
Vent and abdomen.....part feathers down to skin around vent, head and neck, and under wings.
Google images of lice/mites, their eggs, and frass before examination to help with ID if those things are present.

 

[adpugh]

She does go to roost at night just fine. Her comb does look a little droopy compared to the others and she seems to be a little slow moving when she does come out. We're going to check her out this evening. Thanks for all of your help!