Hmmm....I'd say yes, be concerned. When a chicken won't eat, something is wrong--and chickens can be very ill indeed before they show any symptoms. Pick her up (and the others, check them all) and feel her keel (breastbone) to see if she is losing weight. If her keel feels sharp to your hand, she is most likely underweight. Check their poops to see if they look strange, smell bad, etc. Check for dirty feathers around their vents, pale combs and/or wattles, etc. Look inside their mouths and check for injuries or growths that might be keeping her from eating. Also check for foot and leg injuries, and problems such as Bumblefoot.

The neck stretching MAY be due to Gapeworms, which can be taken care of by worming and dusting the girls and their living areas. If the birds have not been wormed by you or anyone else in the last six months, I'd do it. I always worm and dust new adult flock members when I bring them home.

Meanwhile, feed them extra goodies such as scrambled eggs, raw corn on the cob, cooked ground beef, raisins, etc. to help bolster their immune systems and fatten them up a bit. Also offer unflavored Pedialyte to give them an electrolyte boost, which birds that have been shipped need. They are no doubt feeling stressed from the travel and the new surroundings, and they need help from you.

Good luck! :)

Velvet ~:>

How is your listless hen doing? Update please!

Thanks for asking. She is doing much better.

She is walking more normal, the day after I posted this she was scurrying around eating pretty much like everyone else.

I keep moving the tractor, and doing odd stuff with their nest boxes. One hen throws all the shavings out, down to bare wood, the three sisters don't mind and just nest. So, every day, it is something different. Either location, bedding, bunk, or SOMEthing.

She acts like she is doing much better.

Now, I just need to figure out how to pick her up and get a good look at things. Do I wait until night, and bring my own light? Do I seperate her out into a cage and take her off somewhere to check her out? When I bring her back will they give her a hard time becuase she was singled out?

It is pretty tough to catch birds out of the tractor. It is easier to wait until nightfall, then just pluck them out of roost boxes. I would have to let them all out to get in and catch one in a hurry, or ill or in trouble. But four hens loose to help one is not that big of a deal, really.

Thank you for your concern. Lets me know the girls and I are all in good hands here!

I think after dark would be your best bet. Take a carton or pet carrier and remove her to a lighted area to check her out. As long as you return her in the dark, there will likely be no problem with the others. A second pair of hands to hold the light, close the box etc. can be handy if you have a volunteer.

If, upon examination, you decide you need to segregate her, you may need to pen her where they can see her for a day or two before reintegrating her and then return her at night. A dog crate is handy for times like these. I've never had problems reintegrating a hen - perhaps because mine free-range - but I know some people have not been so lucky.

Good luck and don't forget to update us later on.

Good to hear that she's doing better! :) I'd agree with Maggie, grab her after dark, tuck her under one arm and bring her into the house for a good checkup. Afterwards just return her to the flock and they'll never notice. Failing that, a nice goodie such as corn on the cob--you have a hold of it, see, and they have to approach you to get a bite and can't run off with it. :) The way to a chickens' heart is through it's stomach...

Don't worry too much about the weird nesting...I once had a hen that fell in love with an old wheelbarrow I was using for a planter...it had gravel mulch and she laid her eggs in the open, right on the rocks! Little weirdo... :) The thrill eventually wore off and now she lays eggs in the nest boxes like a normal little girl. I think the odd nesting behavior is most common in young hens for some reason, they love to experiment. Wait till you see them grabbing bits of straw and placing it on their backs so they can 'hide' under some camoflage while they lay! It's a hoot...

Velvet ~:>