Holding wings out

[Dora's Mum]

We've had an egg-bound chicken tonight, Joan needed some help releasing an egg. We gave her a nice bath, cuddles and she "ejected" the egg.

When she perked up, she was kind of standing with her wings from her body, just slightly and down. What does this mean, if anything?

I know when they're hot they do this to cool down, but today has been wet and pretty windy today. Today she's been in her own world, keeping a distance and looking a bit down, presumably because of being egg-bound. She perked up after "ejecting" a 66g egg and we put her in the coop just now (at dusk) and just want to make sure it's nothing sinister.

Thanks

 

[Marigold]

You obviously dealt with it successfully. You'll just have to see how she is in the morning I expect. She may make a complete recovery overnight, or she may need a bit more time resting and getting over what was certainly an uncomfortable experience and maybe a painful one also. Is Joan one of your older rescues? They do often get egglaying problems when they're over 2-3 years because they've worked so hard to be productive early on.

 

[Dora's Mum]

Thanks, Marigold. Joan is an ex-battery, probably 22months old now. Seems perfectly fine today, as if yesterday was no issue. She enjoyed a grape or 2 and a 1/6th handful of corn as a treat today

 

[Marigold]

That's good news, I'm glad she's better.