[SarahR]

Hi, one of our chickens really doesn't seem like herself.  She is constantly in a nest box and doesn't get up to go outside or for feed or water (that we can see).  Her comb is paler and she just doesn't seem very happy.  When we pick her up and put her outside she does eat something but the other chickens start bullying her and she goes back inside.
We have checked her and can't see any mites or anything on her.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Sarah

[shetlandpaul]

how old is she and is she broody.

[SarahR]

She's about 7 months and she doesn't have any eggs under her.  New to this so not sure about the broody thing, does this sound like the answer and if so what can we do?
Thanks

[shetlandpaul]

how pale his her comb. how does it compare to the other hens. may be worth getting some suppliment and seeing how she does.

[Rosemary]

If she is broody - and she doesn't nee eggs under her - she will fluff up her feathers and object to being taken of the nest. I can't describe the noise they make - but it's a sort of "Bu**er off and leave me to my eggs" expression.

[SarahR]

Her comb is definately paler than the other chickens.  We give them Poultry Spice every day with their feed anyway, although I suppose if she's not eating properly then she won't be getting any of the Poultry Spice.  Is there anything else worth giving her?   She does fluff out her feathers when we go to pick her up so maybe she is broody - is there anything that we can do to stop it?
Thanks for your help and advice.

[JulieS]

I had some very good advice from this forum when one of mine went broody a few weeks ago.

I've had 3 go broody recently, and with two of them I have moved them off the nest every time I go past.  After a few days of that they get back to 'normal'.

One was very persistent though, so I got some hatching eggs from a nearby farmer and she's sitting on those.  Only a couple of days to wait now, I'm getting quite excited!

If yours is broody, and you don't want her to be...then you could try moving her off the nest regularly during the day and make sure that you collect the eggs regularly too. 

[doganjo]

Just in case it isn't that and she is just a  bit under the weather - try porridge oats and honey with boiling water poured over them, then some cold milk.  Allow to cool and keep the other chickens out of the way.  lol  you could add some poultry spice to it too.  I had one liek that a few weeks ago and this helped her get back to normal.  A bit like a tonic.  Good luck.

[gillian]

hi my silkies go broody nearly every 6 wks,  they make a different noise and will race back to nest if removed, i put them in old dog cage or rabbit run for 5-7 days until they stop the 'moaning' noise and are less frantic, once i lift them out of the cage they dont make a beeline for the nest, then i know they are over the broody bit,but it can take over a week till they start laying.  if they stay on nest where others lay they will put them all off and they all become very vocal.  they tend to get noisy again when they start to lay again,  If you keep on nest, make sure you punt them out for food and water a couple of times a day as a broody does not want to leave her eggs, even if not sitting on any!

good luck