What's she doing?

[substandardtim]

One of my 15 week old BO hens is just standing in a corner of the chicken run against a wall and not interacting with any of the other chickens. She's been like that for a little while now this evening.

I did go and pick her up and she made some chickeny noises at me and when I set her back down she stood there for a minute and then slowly walked back to the exact same spot.

Is she possibly getting ready to lay her first egg? Or should I be concerned that she is sick in some way?

I'm in the process of finishing up the nest boxes so if they're gonna start laying then I guess it's good timing. I'm doing some serious redneck recycling, I'll post pictures of them when they are finished.

 

[Fowl97]

they may be if they are going to lay not having a nest box wont stop them. mine layed the egg just on the floor

 

[Vince]

I have one acting the same way. Thought it was a roo though. It is just content by being alone. Eating and water is being done. Kind of wobbly walking. Lets me come up and pick it up which is not normal.

 

[substandardtim]

Well she eventually went in for the night though I am pretty sure now that she is the only hen that has started using a new higher roost that we put up in the coop like a week ago.

So perhaps she is just a loner. It's so hard to tell them apart, really need to get those colored leg bands, but I think she may be the one hen that has always been more affectionate with me. Perhaps she feels more like a human than a chicken.

 

[Uppity Peon]

I had a pullet doing that and she had a prolapsed vent. You better give her a good examination.

 

[kcfuerst]

Sometimes chicks with a respiratory illness setting in, or worms, or cocci can behave that way.

 

[substandardtim]

this is not tim, its tims wife.

I think she is sick. she hasnt left the coop all day and is still hanging out in the corner. I picked her up and looked over her good, her vent is clean and looks normal. no signs of mites or lice on her. her belly felt normal and smooth to me. but when I first grabbed her to check on her she spit water out of her mouth/beak. not out of her nose like snot, but like she threw up water. every time another girl comes up to her she makes noise to keep them away.

tim is at work and cant get home, but im trying to find something to contain her in to sepperate her from the other girls.

what is wrong with her and how can I help her get better?

 

[Lesa]

I am going to say impacted crop, if she is doing the spit, drool thing. There are lots of posts on here, if you do a search. I seem to remember olive oil and bread- but check it out. Good luck!!

 

[substandardtim]

I went back out and tried massageing the croup area, it feels like there is a water filled ballon on the frount of her chest. I dont normaly go around feeling up chickens so at first I didnt think anything of it.

massaging didnt seem to do any good. she spit up a tiny bit of water and made gulping motions like she was trying to eat or drink something. I tried to give her some olive oil soaked bread and she is not interested in eating or drinking. I had carried her into the house with me to check on the kids and she just cuddled into my arms and didnt make a peep. I threw the bread to the other girls and they went nuts over it.

my sister is on her way over with a cage (so I can bring her in the house) and Im going to ask her to help me give her a few ccs of warm olive oil and see if that helps. I really dont want to lose her, she is one of our first chickens and the sweetest one.

 

[substandardtim]

she wont drink, wont eat, wont walk around. I cant massage away the ballon like lump. my sister and I could not get the olive oil in her, I have no idea how to get a chickens beak open.

she is now very lethargic and is not making a whole lot of noise. I saw her poop once and it was bloody diarriea. not bright red, but a deep red. I have no idea what to do for her. Ill just have to wait till Tim gets home.