The day before yesterday I noticed that one of my chickens had blood around his neck, in panic I thought we had lost one but then found it in the chicken house. A bit quiet so assumed they had had a little bit of a fight. Next day the quiet chicken was sitting down a lot in the dips in the ground they have made and when she stood up I was shocked to see her rear end had lost all it's fluff, she seemed to be straining but not able to pass anything, i suspected she was trying to lay an egg. After googling seems her symptoms pointed to possibly being egg bound. I would add she was also reluctant to eat but was drinking. This morning she seemed brighter but her rear looked awful, coming home from work tonight she seems to have lost even more feathers and is actually pulling them herself, she is now interested in her food, but still sitting around more than usual and not joining the others. I have observed that she is not being bullied. She has passed normal poo but was leaking what I undersand the be wee (white liquid).
Sorry this seems very long winded but some advise please. We are new to keeping chickens and until now everything as been brilliant. I would add someone is laying very large eggs, and I did hear that this can cause a hen to be egg bound in young hens. We bought these just before they came into lay and have had them for approx 8-10 weeks.
Just stood outside watching, she is definitly livlier that last night but is picking at her bottom a lot and shaking her head, I did see another chicken taking a peck.