franciemayhem
In the Brooder
- Dec 18, 2024
- 28
- 34
- 44
Hey y'all! Long time no post. I hope everyone's doing well!
So, I have a flock of six chickens. There are four buff Orpington hens, one silkie pullet, and one silkie cockerel. It seems that all of our hens have started laying at about 6.5 months (we assume so at least, as we get about four eggs a day). One of our hens, Scout, started limping yesterday. I've also noticed that for the last few days she's been spending more time on her own sitting in the flower bed. I've also noticed her panting.
I'm thinking that she may have gotten stuck behind the shed, as two days ago we found her behind there (and an egg, too). To get there, she would have had to crawl underneath several tools and other backyard supplies. Maybe she hurt herself in that process? I can't find a wound, though. It doesn't look like she has bumblefoot. I will say that the leg she's favoring is the one that we have her zip tie on, but it's not tight--but there also isn't exactly enough slack for her to get it stuck on something, unless she REALLY got herself in a weird position.
I don't think it was a predator, because someone is almost always within earshot of the chickens--and if the hens screaming wouldn't alert someone, our cockerel definitely would. He's very protective of them and alerts at the slightest sign of trouble.
Not sure if this is helpful, but we have had soft eggs and one very bumpy/malformed egg. Neither I think were Scout's. I know that the soft eggs are normal for new layers (we've added some calcium to their diets) but I'm not sure if the malformed egg is a sign of illness. I'm also wondering if she could be egg bound? She was behind the shed today, nesting in her usual spot, but she didn't lay an egg
If it's helpful, I can post pictures of her and her foot. Any advice is appreciated!! Thank you
So, I have a flock of six chickens. There are four buff Orpington hens, one silkie pullet, and one silkie cockerel. It seems that all of our hens have started laying at about 6.5 months (we assume so at least, as we get about four eggs a day). One of our hens, Scout, started limping yesterday. I've also noticed that for the last few days she's been spending more time on her own sitting in the flower bed. I've also noticed her panting.
I'm thinking that she may have gotten stuck behind the shed, as two days ago we found her behind there (and an egg, too). To get there, she would have had to crawl underneath several tools and other backyard supplies. Maybe she hurt herself in that process? I can't find a wound, though. It doesn't look like she has bumblefoot. I will say that the leg she's favoring is the one that we have her zip tie on, but it's not tight--but there also isn't exactly enough slack for her to get it stuck on something, unless she REALLY got herself in a weird position.
I don't think it was a predator, because someone is almost always within earshot of the chickens--and if the hens screaming wouldn't alert someone, our cockerel definitely would. He's very protective of them and alerts at the slightest sign of trouble.
Not sure if this is helpful, but we have had soft eggs and one very bumpy/malformed egg. Neither I think were Scout's. I know that the soft eggs are normal for new layers (we've added some calcium to their diets) but I'm not sure if the malformed egg is a sign of illness. I'm also wondering if she could be egg bound? She was behind the shed today, nesting in her usual spot, but she didn't lay an egg
If it's helpful, I can post pictures of her and her foot. Any advice is appreciated!! Thank you
