Weird Behavior - Cognitive Decline???

[Jkbaca]

I have a hen, a barred rock, who just turned 9 in August. She was top hen for years, but I don't think she is anymore.

She just went through a very hard molt. She also had bumblefoot that I couldn't treat, and I took her to a vet who gave her a clean bill of health after treatment. That was a little over a month ago.

Well this hen, Muriel, has been acting... weird. She has good energy, poop, body condition, and appetite, but she's been hiding. I thought she was broody for a minute, but she hasn't laid in at least 2 years. She free ranges just fine but hides at night. Almost like she's paranoid. I thought maybe she was getting bullied, so I watched her interactions with the flock for a while yesterday. I saw nothing out of the ordinary and she has no injuries. I made her her own area with good and water for when she's in the coop overnight, which seems to relax her a bit. I put her best friend, a brahma named Jasmine, with her, and she seems fine then.

Huge coop cleaned daily. On all flock. Fresh water daily. Free range all day.

Any ideas? I'm almost thinking she's having cognitive decline.

 

[saysfaa]

Might it be eyesight? If she's lost enough vision in low light to not respond well to the other chickens, that might cause her to hide at night and be fine in the daytime.

 

[Jkbaca]

Might it be eyesight? If she's lost enough vision in low light to not respond well to the other chickens, that might cause her to hide at night and be fine in the daytime.

Good point! I'll check that out.