[sarah*]

For a few days now one of my hens has not been standing and just prefers to sit, as the days have gone on we have got quite concerned, we have just bought her inside to figure out what is wrong and we suddenly have realised we are not sure what to check for, I have tried to give her, her favourite - pear...but she isn't interested and just sat down...do you think she is egg bound...she is showing no signs of anything-no coughing no discharge...she does look like she has lost a few feathers on one side of her wing..nothing major and it feels a bit rough at the back of her neck where she may at some point been pecked by the others if they have noticed something is wrong??

CAn anyone help???  We are just looking at each other in the kitchen very puzzled and slightly helpless....

Many thanks Sarah...

[Aunt Sally]

Chicken problems can be very difficult to work out.  So a few questions to give some of us some clues.

How old is she ?

Has she been laying eggs recently ?  If so were they normal?

Is her abdomen (just below her vent) swollen and soft or can you feel a lump in it (an egg) ?

Have your hens been wormed recently ?

What colour is her comb ?

Have you checked their house for red mites ?

Is she pooing ? and are they normal ?

Is she sleepy ?

If you feel her under her wing near her shoulder joint does she feel warm compared to one of your other hens ?

Does her crop feel normal (deflated if she is no eating) or large and soggy or hard ? Does her breath smell ?

Any answere to these questions may give some clues.