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I have a hen that seems a little quiet, she is eating but not as much as normal she is grooming herself and is a walking around the garden ok. She is rather thin, and her abdomen is warm and swollen. Her droppings look ok, if a bit small. I have had to wash her rear as it is a bit messy. She has not really come back into lay properly after moulting last Autumn. Any thoughts as to what it may be. She is 3 years old- is this old for a hen??

Tiffany

Three years old is pretty old for a hen, as this is about the time she will stop laying and just be a old lay as it were! as for the swollen abdomen she may have some sort of paricite that is bothering her! If you still have her it wouldn't hurt to worm her, give her lots of lovin and spoil her, if she hasn't put on any weight or you have any other birds like this in the future you can feed them boiled eggs and cooked rice to bring the weight back up on them.

I agree, worm her and watch to see she is eating her pellets. You can feel her crop to check it has something in it. If she is Hybrid then yes she may stop layimg at around 3 but if she is a pure breed she could continue for a few years yet. Also powder her (and the other) for lice as they lay eggs around the vent feathers and this can sometimes show as a 'messy bottom'.

Watch that abdomen! Has she any feathers on it? If not she may be a bit broody (hence not laying) but she may also be egg bound, though if she is still giving you droppings that is a good sign.

Keep us posted and hope she picks up x