Poorly hen

[Grashirl]

Hello all,
We are novice keepers and have had half a dozen Goldline Hens for two weeks. They have settled in really well and are at this moment leading my wife and daughter a very merry dance around what was a very nice lawn!! They started laying after ten days of being with us, well somebody is.
When the Hens arrived one of them had what can only be described as a bald ass, I hope that term is acceptable, if not I apologize here and now.
The said hen always seems to be a bit distant from the others, last evening when we let them out for a forage, she just sat in the shade. She does appear to be eating, she was first out at breakfast, but when we came to let them out today she is sat in the nesting box and has not moved. Her breathing seems to be very deep and she appears to be struggling. When I opened the nesting box she didn't move and allowed me to touch her, which is a first. I think we have a poorly hen, any ideas anyone?
Any advice will be gladly received, many thanks
Grashirl.

 

[chrismahon]

Welcome to the forum Grashirl.

You hen sounds as though she is bottom of the pecking order and is being bullied. She may be in the nest box as a first lay as some seem to visit several times before the first egg arrives. However she is probably being being bullied and not eating. Getting to the food first is what they have to do to get any feed at all and then they run away when the others arrive. I would get another feeder and drinker in the opposite corner of the run. Hopefully her bottom is OK otherwise she may need treatment, even isolation. We've had a few hens in exactly the same condition and the extra feeder and drinker solved it.

 

[Grashirl]

Thank you for the advice Chrismahon, we will get something organised for tomorrow, and hopefully this will help her.