I have a red sex-link hen around fifteen months old and usually lays one egg a day, early morning. Yesterday she did not lay but was very active. This morning as I checked on them all birds were out except her, she was in her normal roosting area opening her eyes only to check me out. I called her a few times but she remained on roost, eyes closed but Periodically checking things out. She also seemed to have her feathers puffed out more than normal. I went ahead and picked her and held her for a few minutes until she made a noise letting me know if she wanted to be left alone. She jumped off her ruse went to a nesting box lay down and closed her eyes. I left her there and went back to check about an hour later she was drinking water but Closing her eyes and she was drinking. I separated her from the other birds brought her inside and started giving her antibiotics and electrolyte in her water as well as her normal food and another dish of scrambled eggs and mixed vegetables. She did eat some of her normal food and she has been drinking frequently. Her stools are runny but I noticed nothing abnormal in it. Her vent area was moist And I found nothing else wrong. Since she's been in her temporary stage does appear that she is flexing the muscles around the back end of the chicken very frequently. Eight hours later she doesn't seem to be as sleepy but is still sleepy and is still flexing muscles at the rear end of her. She seems to have remained standing but not moving around and Continues to drink. I am thinking she may be egg bound but have no knowledge of this issue. Does anybody have any ideas what this may be?[/IMG]
Check on my girl again. She still drinking frequently and eating some. Checked her to see if she may be molting and I did notice some new feathers starting on her wings. I set her down outside to see what she would do. She did poop again mostly clear liquid with some yellow mixed in with it. She is trying to forage for food but not giving it a big attempt. I tried to check her to see if she was egg bound but have no clue what I am doing so I wasn't able to tell. Could this be the early stages of molting?