Part 0800.0005

[crankycookie]

My 2 year old silkie hen didn't sleep in the coop last night, I only noticed when I went to open the eglu (which is up on a table with a ladder) and she was sitting on the ground by the door of the run. She had laid a thin shelled egg that morning on the floor.

 

While free ranging she keeps sitting down on the ground rather than standing, which is odd behavior for her. It looks like she might be spreading/splaying her legs a little more than usual when she sits. She also doesn't try to run away when I try to pick her up, which is also unusual. I felt around her vent area to see if she is egg bound but couldn't feel anything. She might also be molting as I see bits of her feathers around the yard and in the nest box, but since she's a silkie you can't really tell. When she sits her tail droops a little bit. Her appetite seems fine, she pecks at scratch, and she pooped a little (dry rather than runny, not a lot ) so for the life of me I can't figure out what's wrong with her. Apart from the sitting and not roosting, she seems rather normal.

 

Any theories?

[Egluntyne]

Is she walking with a wide legged gait? Does Her abdomen feel swollen?

[crankycookie]

She seems to be limping or walking a bit strange, but she still runs when she thinks there are treats to be had. I watched her try to climb the ladder tonight, and she stopped about halfway and then fell down through the rungs. I just picked her up and put her in myself.

 

Her belly doesn't seem swollen to me, and her crop feels just like my other silkie, who is fine.

[Egluntyne]

I'm wondering if she has peritonitis.