Chicken keeps sitting down

[ellkez]

Hello,

A few days ago I brought two Bantam 8 month hens and they have just started to explore the garden but one of them keeps randomly sitting down; should I be worried or am I overreacting?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Many thanks

 

[shoeey]

Does she seem otherwise well? What colour is her comb? Is she breathing heavily? Have you looked at her feet? Does she sit down heavily - ie fall down - or just sit with control? Sorry for all the questions but she probably is just enjoying the sun! Alternatively she could have a sore foot or other injury. I've also had chickens with Marek's who fell down.

 

[Clodagh]

Is she 'squatting' as you approach her?

 

[Enfys]

Is she 'squatting' as you approach her?

I was going to ask that. If she is then she is wanting to breed. Mine do it all the time, no rooster here.

 

[ellkez]

Hiya!

She has a healthy looking comb and when she sits down she tends to lean one side and stick her leg out, but she is walking with a bit of an un even stride at times - perhaps she has a bad leg?

 

[cobgoblin]

Is she doing this when the sun shines on her? They do seem to suddenly and reflexively sunbathe.

 

[JillA]

I was going to ask that. If she is then she is wanting to breed. Mine do it all the time, no rooster here.

OMG two of my rescues do that when I try to catch them, I thought they were just showing a freeze response to fear

 

[cobgoblin]

Chickens will squat for a rooster or their owner. It doesn't mean they are frightened.
Some of mine do it when I shoo them out of the stables or if I come up behind them too quickly.

 

[Clodagh]

OMG two of my rescues do that when I try to catch them, I thought they were just showing a freeze response to fear

I'm afraid not...they fancy you!!

OP, sounds like she has a bad leg. Can you catch her and give it a proper look?