ajm200 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 (edited) Hi Everyone. I'd like some advice on one of our chickens who is suddenly behaving out of character. She's eating, drinking and laying, just behaving oddly She has been no. 2 or 3 in the pecking order from the start but is suddenly very submissive, letting the others take her food without any fight. We have no problems with fighting or feather plucking in our little flock, they seem to get along fine. Everytime I look across to the chicken area she's laying down. If I go over there, she'll get up and wander across to me but she doesn't rush whereas last week she'd have been running over. Last night she put herself to bed in the nesting box about 1.5hrs before dusk. During the day, she only goes into the nesting box to lay. I've checked her over, can't find any lice, wounds or other signs of a problem. They were all wormed two weeks ago and dusted for mites a weeks ago. Any ideas you may have would be great? Edited July 21, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknette Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Hi Do you think she may have a softie coming? They go very quiet and lethargic, they sit down a lot and generally want to be left alone. They bounce back once they have laid it, so this may be the case. Hope this helps. Best Wishes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Hello AJM200, What a worry, i was just gong to ask the same, could she be going to lay a softie, maybe there could be one on the way. Bless her & what more can you do but attentively love & watch over her...she's in good hands! Hope she picks up soon. Ms Tillyhopesnormalityresumesquicklyforyouall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 I suspected that it might be a softie making her feel poorly but she's laying normal eggs and this is now the 4th day that she's not been quite right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 There's not necessarily anything wrong It depends on knowing your chicken and being able to tell if she looks healthy and happy. Mine sit down and lounge about a lot, especially in the sun or dust bath, but that is different from hunching and looking uncomfortable which I have seen in ill chickens. Mine never sat down until Abbie turned up and showed them Katy started going to bed early a few months ago and will often beat the others by about an hour. I've also had the pecking order change e.g. Susannah went from 1/2 to 2/3 to 2/3 with different head chicken. That was on adding chickens, but it can change naturally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
