Single hen

[WitchHazel]

My White Ranger, Lillibet, has started taking power naps, and I don't know whether I should be worried about it.

 

She's about 19, maybe 20, weeks old. I've had her for 3 or 4 weeks. SHe's a very active girl, often rushing around the garden like Roadrunner. Her tail is upright, she's eating plenty.

 

Today she was sitting on the garden seat, all folded up with her head under her wing. Then she sort of sprang up and started running round the garden again. Awwww, how sweet, I thought.

 

Then just now I saw her on the arm of the chair, this time standing up but with her head ticked under her wing. Her breathing is calm and peaceful. She's just jumped up and is busy eating grass now.

 

What do you think?

[Christian]

Teenage hormones kicking in possibly? She might be gearing up to start laying soon. 2 of mine started power napping a few days before the eggs came.

 

As long as she looks healthy, I wouldn't worry too much WH

[WitchHazel]

She might be gearing up to start laying soon. 2 of mine started power napping a few days before the eggs came.

 

Now that would be lovely!

 

We've been having a bit of an egg drought for ages. Delilah seems to have retired from laying, laid a few after her moult subsided but nothing for ages; Jasmine the Welsummer laid a couple (we think) and then nothing (she's a year old now!); and Milly has been laying like a trooper

 

Would be SO good to have enough eggs for poached eggs every day or two!

[chelsea]

my 2 newbies (now 20/21 weeks) dont really do much at all really. They sound similar to your hen - they seem to have a "spurt" of activity and then sit down for a bit and nap. As I remember my first ever 2 chickens Sam & Ella were exactly the same until they began laying and then they were completely different.

 

I dont think there's anything to be too concerned about....just keep an eye on her as I know you will.

[Helly Welly]

A couple of mne will have naps during the day, especially if the suns shining. She may have just had a bad nights sleep. If she looks healthy then i'm sure it's nothing to worry about.

[WitchHazel]

Thanks for your replies. I'll try not to worry (Chickens! )

[Hen Watch]

Hazel, I'm sure she is fine and you are keeping a close eye on her anyway. But I have to say my Nigella died only 2 weeks after arriving from Omlet showing same signs. Nigella was always "sleeping" and at the time I'd only had chickens a few weeks and I thought she was sunbathing (like they do normally anyway) but she stopped eating and drinking and by the time I realised it was too late. My inexperience of only 2 weeks chicken keeping didn't help and if it was now I would spot it. But back then I didn't.

 

I know you are an experienced chicken keeper and there is probably absolutely nothing to worry about, but I just wanted to share my past experience and I know you will be keeping a close eye on her anyway as you are at the moment.

 

All the best.