Lethargic Gertrude

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Cj2512

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Gertrude is poorly - I think. She was fine yesterday so hopefully whatever is wrong it's in its early stages. She hasn't laid yet today and would have normally have done so by now. Her comb is nice and red and still upright however she is just standing around, closing her eyes. She's been doing it all morning and is very slow in her movements. I've put her near her water (with apple cider vinegar in) and she has drunk a bit, she's also had some grit. I haven't seen her eat. Normally she is into everything but today's she's very still and subdued.

Any ideas, tips etc. She laid yesterday and her egg was fine.

Thanks
 
It's possible she could be eggbound. See article on the main Poultrykeeper site
https://poultrykeeper.com/reproductive-system-problems/egg-binding/
If so, she may be helped by a warm bath, as suggested in the article.
How old is she, and is she a hybrid?
 
Hey Marigold. Thanks for replying. Reckon it was egg related as she finally laid about 2 hrs ago and it's a bit bigger than normal plus has a slightly odd shape to it - nothing special but perhaps enough to cause her some trouble. Anyway she seems happier now and back to her normal mischievous self. I'll keep a close eye on her but hopefully it was just a bigger than normal egg!

I'm still in my first year so am probably worry about them too much!
 
No, you were quite right to be concerned, as egg binding is common and can lead to painful complications if ignored. Shows you have a good eye for your birds and are observing them effectively. They do try to conceal illness, so you have to keep a careful watch for what's not quite right, as you were doing.
I'm glad she shifted it OK. She might miss a day tomorrow, I've got one who often lays a big egg and then has a rest. It would be interesting to know if this egg turns out to be a double yolker, when you crack it open.
 
Hi Marigold

Sadly not a double yoker - I've only had one of those and that was when they first began to lay.

I wondered if you could answe an unrelated QS for me as you seem to know your stuff. When you have only two is there a pecking order? My girls seem to get on really well and it doesn't seem that either is in charge but I'd be interested to know if there must be one who is more dominant.

Thanks

Claire
 
Oh yes, i think there probably is, although with only two, with plenty of space, they often become great friends and it's not so evident because there are fewer times when one actually needs to obviously take charge. If you ever get more hens, you'll find it becomes clearer in a larger group, as the interactions are more complicated and there are more rankings to be filled. A lot of interactions between hens are very subtle, a matter of glances and glares when another lower-ranking hen steps out of line, reinforcing previous lessons learned the hard way when the flock was settling down together after introductions. Also each hen has a different personality, some are more of a leader than others, and this depends a lot on the breed. The sort of commercial hybrids who are bred to lay every day in very crowded conditions are usually bred to have placid temperaments and often aren't so bossy or competitive, as this would cause stress and reduce productivity. My strangest pairing was between two 5-week-old chicks, a Buff Sussex and a Cream Legbar, who grew up together and were kept separate from the older hens for 3 months. The Legbar was very clearly in charge from the start, in an amicable way, appeared much more intelligent and a natural organiser, and obviously told the Sussex where to go next, what to eat, when to roost etc, but never seemed to be aggressive to her larger friend. The Sussex died this Spring, and the Legbar is still top hen, age 5, in a flock of 5 younger adults, including a 4-year-old leghorn who is always trying for promotion to the top job, but hasn't made it yet!
I think watching a flock and realising the subtleties of what is going on between them is one of the chief joys of keeping hens. It will be interesting to see what others have to say about their observations.
Anyway, I'm glad Gertrude is O.K!
 
It is fascinating. I had 3 brown hybrids raised from the same hatch together and they never appeared to have any pecking order I could notice. Appeared to be completely amicable in their goings on. When younger birds came along nothing seemed to change between the 'sisters' even though they had the normal power struggles across the now larger group- they were all top rank but one had to put up a fight a bit more to not be demoted. Whether a demotion in the wider group would have changed her relationship with her sisters I don't know but I suspect it wouldn't. She was picked on by all the others when she had egg problems and injury but that's different I think, a much lower level predation urge kicks in. (I feel sorry for all of them if that happens, the pecking order is overridden and they seem traumatised by their own uncontrolable behaviour.)
A pecking order seems to operate on many levels and with sub groups at the same time.
 
And in your case, Rick, I expect that introducing a young cockerel recently gave a totally new spectrum to flock interactions and to the role of previously top hens.
 
:) well that would be the theory Marigold if the cockerel took the top place in the order (by far the best and easiest situation.) Little Linden came in about half way up the order on an individual level but girls tend to stick together and that pushed him down to the bottom. He's fitted in now and the least secure hybrid (as above) is wary of him but he has to run away when top hen is coming through!
 
Wow - its all so fascinating. I've only a small garden so whilst I'd love to get more I'm going to stick with these two. Plus I really don't like the sound of the settling in that needs to take place when you introduce more.

I'll be watching Dolly and Gert with a closer eye from now on - would be interesting to know which is top dog! They both out rank mine and next door's cat!
 
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