Chicken with tail down and sitting a lot in the afternoon

[MedusaSnake]

I keep seeing one of my girls sitting down all the time and when she stands she sometimes keeps her tail down. I thought this was just the weather at first but she kept repeating this behavior for several days now. She just sits there usually for the afternoon, however, she is more active during the evening and morning hours. She gets up sometimes to eat and drink throughout the day.

A few days ago she was let out of the coop near sunset to free range and was acting normal, walking around and pecking etc., but she doesn’t seem to want to walk for most of the afternoon. Other than sitting around, there don’t seem to be other problems. She still responds when I talk to her and can move around. For some info, she is an older girl, around 7 or 8 years I believe. The last time she laid was months ago. Her breed is a red sex link.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is pretty old for a red sex link chicken. She could have stopped laying or is laying internally. Has she lost weight, or does she have any enlargement of her lower belly between the legs that might be fluid? Is her crop emptying by early morning before she eats? Many of my older chickens just hanging out with the flock, but are not very active at this age.

 

[MedusaSnake]

I checked her lower belly yesterday and compared to one of the younger hens, it felt the same, I would say firm but still a bit soft. Her crop seems fine and her weight is normal. I caught her dust bathing a few days back too.

 

[MedusaSnake]

not very active at this age.

I was thinking it may be old age. She is the oldest in the group and definitely doesn’t have as much energy as the others.

 

[MedusaSnake]

I would like to add, over the past few days I have been noticing that her droppings appear smaller. They look like regular droppings, but just different in size.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she eating and drinking normally, or has her eating decreased as well?

 

[MedusaSnake]

it seems like her eating is fine. I gave her a boiled egg yolk earlier and she rushed over to get some. Just as I’m typing she’s pecking the others over food since she is at the top of the pecking order I guess . She doesn’t eat as much as the others but maybe this is because she’s not laying anymore? Still sits around during the day.

 

[MedusaSnake]

Her comb looks a bit dry..should this be a concern?

 

[EuroChook]

Her comb looks a bit dry..should this be a concern?

Could be a sign of her health being less than optimal. Additional Vit C is great for chickens in hot weather. Deficiency of some kind could be an issue... it's about taking a mental inventory now and seeing if anything might be a cause for change on behavior and dry comb. Fluids, vit C, cool areas, vit deficiencies... and if sh is otherwise walking fine and eating ok then at this point there aren't too many other clues to go on.

 

[EuroChook]

Sometimes driness indicates circulation issues or anemia caused by mites or zinc ingestion. Aw I hope she's ok and wish you well!