carrotspine Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 I'm quite new to keeping chickens having only got mine in May. My blackrock hybrid today has been really under the weather. She's not scratching about with the others, not interested in food (I tried some strawberry plant leaves which normally they go mad for and she just stood and looked), she's drinking regularly and what concerns me most is that her tail feathers are really droopy. She's just stood in the run at the moment on her own. I have heard they go hot where they are broody but she's not in the nesting box she's outside. I've tried to make as much shade as possible for all of them and currently have the fan blowing into the run. I'm really worried as she is only 6 months old and she's the one my son named so obviously he's pretty attached to her, can anyone help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrotspine Posted July 20, 2013 Author Share Posted July 20, 2013 Well, she went in the hen house last night for neatly an hour and layed a huge egg, it's got a farely soft shell but after that she was her old self, panic over. I can go to the cinema now instead of the vets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Glad to hear that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 They will wind you up Plain sailing for you now I hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrotspine Posted July 20, 2013 Author Share Posted July 20, 2013 Let's hope so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Reading hen books can be a bit like looking up your own symptoms on the internet - you can end up thinking all sorts! But if you do think there's a chance she could have anything contagious, that's another reason to get her away from the others (I kept poor Ena in the bath for a month when she was unwell in the winter!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrotspine Posted July 21, 2013 Author Share Posted July 21, 2013 Thanks Merlina, I know what you mean, I had her self diagnosed with many life threatening illnesses and thinking hoe expensive it was going to be at the vets! She's loads better now, acting her normal self the same as the others. We're keeping our eyes on her but so far so good. She seemed to know what to do after as she's been munching on a lot of crushed up oyster shells and cooked egg shells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 heh - i actually meant that reply for another thread - so if it sounded surreal, that'll be why (I blame middle age and the weather ) Laying a softie or other 'odd' egg does seem to make them off colour until it's done so hopefully she'll be fine now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
