Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[darkwoodali]

One of my hybrids, Sylvia, seems to have been really out of sorts today. She's often the last to lay but today she sat on the other eggs for much longer than usual before laying her own. Also she wasn't keen to leave the nesting box, even after I removed the eggs, and eventually I had to lift her out to join the others free-ranging. I noticed she hasn't really been feeding today either. She's certainly bottom of the pecking order but isn't picked on by the others, or targeted by my 2yr old for chasing. All in all, she's only been out of the nesting box for about 1/2 hour today. Physically she seems fine so I'm perplexed. Guess I just have to wait and see how she is tomorrow? Do chickens have "down days"? The other 3 seem fine.

[Tweety]

Although she is a hybrid, it sounds as if she is feeling a bit broody!

[darkwoodali]

I did wonder. What do I do?

[Chucky Mama]

I would give her a health check, checking vent, nose for discharge, abdomen for tightness or swelling, check for parasites & listen to her chest for wheezing etc. It can take a while to pass a softie and they can feel very unwell too. When did she last lay?

[darkwoodali]

She's not stopped laying. Health-wise she seems ok. Just down.

[Chucky Mama]

If she is still laying that is a good sign. Have you had a look for lice? - is there any chance that she is being bullied?

[darkwoodali]

Well, she was laying, until today. I noticed she seems to have moulted a little bit today. She's not being bullied, that's certain.

[darkwoodali]

Think she might have lay on the roosting bars last night, found a very cold egg there this morning. She's back in the nesting box now, on top of the other eggs. I'm still one egg down though so can't be sure that the cold egg was hers - they all lay brown ones! If she's broody what do I do? Take her out of the nesting box and restrict her access to the coop until the evening?

[The Dogmother]

If she's broody, then follow these instructions

 

You will know if she's broody as she will flatten herself in the nest, cover all the eggs and squawk at you when you try to move her. I've just let one of mine out of The Cage of Shame and she went skipping off to free range.

[darkwoodali]

Am pretty sure she's broody having read that ClareT. She definitely flattens herself out. I was really concerned she wasn't eating properly too. She's such a timid thing (even though she's the biggest) so if one of the others approaches the feeder she automatically backs off. Even when she's got the food to herself she's barely eating a thing. Will see if I can get hold of a cage, until then will make sure she's forced off the nest twice a day. MIL suggested I just let her sit on an egg but am guessing this would just make it worse for her. Poor love.

[The Dogmother]

Try getting another (smaller) feeder so that there's enough room for her to eat as well.

 

If you want to borrow my broody cage, you're more than welcome; I have two - one larger and t'other a bit smaller. They're decrepit old cat boxes, a bit rusty in places, but they jet wash fine and get brought out of the shed in the summer.