Confusing Hen Behavior

[Kkaysue]

I am at a complete loss as to what is going on and I’ve been researching but I don’t know what’s going on.

I have one hen who seems to be isolating herself from the rest of the flock. I noticed her standing by herself yesterday and went to close their door at 11pm with negative winter temperatures, all the other hens were inside and she was outside roosting. I brought her inside the house and back outside with the flock the next morning and watched several times throughout the day but all the chickens seemed to accept her back into the flock and I didn’t observe any bullying or anything. Tonight, I went to ensure she was in the coop and she wasn’t. We have added a heat source but it’s been out there for about a week, so I don’t think that contributed to a change. They have plenty of roosting space. So, no changes and no apparent bullying. At this point I’m thinking maybe she needs to stay inside in “hospital” for a couple of days. She is not acting injured or sick. I’m at a complete loss as to what is going on. Oh and she is the smallest of the flock (Easter egger) mixed breeds (3 EE, 2 barred rock and 2 Plymouth Rock) and they are about 6 months old. I would appreciate any insight and/or advice because I don’t know where to go from here.

 

[Perris]

I believe she is self-isolating because she feels unwell. I've seen this several times before with members of my own flock. It is good to hear that the rest are not driving her away - it suggests that they do not feel threatened by whatever is wrong with her.
I would carry on doing what you're doing (bring her in the warm at night, put back with the flock in the day). Some recover from whatever it is ailing them, some don't.

 

[Kkaysue]

I believe she is self-isolating because she feels unwell. I've seen this several times before with members of my own flock. It is good to hear that the rest are not driving her away - it suggests that they do not feel threatened by whatever is wrong with her.
I would carry on doing what you're doing (bring her in the warm at night, put back with the flock in the day). Some recover from whatever it is ailing them, some don't.

Thank you so much. This was reassuring to read. She’s one of my favorites, she’s so tolerant of us and my daughter, I hope everything is okay. It was very sad to see her by herself in negative 11 weather. Very thankful I had gone out there yesterday. Fingers crossed bringing her inside at night will help.

 

[Shadrach]

Another possibility is she is starting her moult. Moulting will often make hens seem anti social.

 

[3KillerBs]

Beware that isolating a bird away from it's flock carries it's own set of problems.

A bird alone becomes depressed and loses it's place in the pecking order. The depression affects appetite and that can start a chain of decline.

A bird brought indoors de-acclimates to the outdoor weather.

Maybe an isolation cage inside the coop so that she's with her sisters but in a position where you can evaluate her food and water intake and her poop and keep an eye on her?

 

[aart]

Maybe an isolation cage inside the coop so that she's with her sisters but in a position where you can evaluate her food and water intake and her poop and keep an eye on her?

Yes, this^^^

This is what I do when I have a bird that is acting 'off'.
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.



Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[Kkaysue]

I will have to go and buy a wire cage so that I can isolate in the coop… this was so last minute I didn’t have any other options. I will say that this morning she was acting completely normal, jumped out of the brooder pen, and flew out of my arms the second we got outside. So maybe she just had a minor illness and she’s back to normal. Thanks for all the insight and input. I truly appreciate everyone’s advice.