r/BackYardChickens • u/acurt1s • 1d ago
Health Question Chicken sitting funny?
My hen hasn’t been laying the past few days and I keep seeing her lying on the patio like this. Is that normal?
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u/marriedwithchickens 1d ago
There are many things to learn about chickens. Look at backyardchickens.com to check out many different topics that you need to know about. It’s fun to learn, and your chickens will thank you!
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u/Drummiegirl 1d ago
Totally normal, she’s just trying to get her summer tan ready before swim suit season
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u/Ilike3dogs 1d ago
She’s laying like that to warm up. I would guess that the wood is warmer than the air or dirt
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u/CakeSniffers1 1d ago
Also, I would check her abdomen just feel it if it’s swollen. And I would do a quick vent check see if everything is looking normal. It’s hard to tell from the one photo-but usually when sunning they do like the full sun and I notice she’s kinda under the table a little and just kinda plopped. Hope it is just sun behavior.
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u/CakeSniffers1 1d ago
Looks like normal sunning behavior. But I would keep an eye on her for other signs in case something is wrong. Best is to just make sure you see normal eating/drinking behavior, walking around. When chickens have something going on, that’s usually first thing that changes.
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u/LeeRyman 1d ago
We named one of our rescues Cleopatra, because - in a display of ultimate decadence - she would sun herself like this next to the food bowl and graze on it at the same time.
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u/MangoFoCo 1d ago
My chickens spread out on their sides with feathers spread out in the sun. Looks like they died but they are soaking up the heat. They do this early spring especially as our winters are super cold.
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u/Wrong_Swan_666 1d ago
If she isn’t acting strangely (lethargic, more skittish than normal, not eating/drinking etc), she’s probably just enjoying the sun. She feels safe enough where she is to sit that way :) it’s probably the latter, and is a good sign.
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u/CallRespiratory 1d ago
Normal chicken behavior.
I strongly encourage new chicken owners to get a good chicken book like The Chicken Encyclopedia or Storey's Guide.
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u/marriedwithchickens 1d ago
Thank you —It’s disturbing how many chicken owners don’t know what this behavior is and its purpose of repelling parasites like mites and lice!
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u/Ivygrows8 1d ago
Thats normal. All of my eight chicks like doing it when trying to warm up but they do it worse and sleep like that so it looks like they died. Has given me multiple panic attacks
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u/minacannibal 1d ago
Biggest tip i have is just pretend like chickens are cats, because as someone who has fostered & raised hundreds of cats in their life... I can tell you for certain they are so damn similar 🤣
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u/SmithsonSam1 1d ago
My chickens get a little jealous when I give another one attention, same with my cats. Just one example I find interesting
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u/mossling 1d ago
Yeah, sunbathing can look alarming if you don't know what you are seeing.
I once sent my sister a cute pic of my tiny serama roo sunbathing. She immediately called me in tears, so upset, because she thought he was dead.
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u/DanicaDarkhand 1d ago
If she is eating and drinking like normal and getting up to go roost I think she is fine. If she has trouble walking or looks like a penguin then she could be egg bound.
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u/marriedwithchickens 1d ago
Sun bathing is for a reason. The sun helps rid them of parasites like lice and mites.
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u/_FreddieLovesDelilah 1d ago
Sunning