Forum:

chickens

Chicken laying face up

Posts: 261

Location: Denia, Alicante, Spain. Zone 10. 22m height

posted 2 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Hi! One of Our chickens lays faces up and we don't know why, and we are wondering if we should ever let her stay like that.

We observed the last two days that this chicken is limping. Of course, this can be many many things. We had extreme wind here and the mobile "chick shaw" went upside down and she might be injured. Also our little mastiff run a lot after this one and maybe is injured. And also she can be sick, and having Marek disease. The curious thing is that often we find this one laying face up. We try to put her straight, but she changes position, it is like if she is "wanting" to be that way. Or this is my wife theory, that she's got pain in the leg so she prefers to change to that position. But it is more difficult for her to eat and drink that way.

We have this one apart from the flock to see her evolution, but we are wondering why might this one be laying with the back on the floor and the legs upside. I'm looking for info about this specifics, but I find nothing

Robert Ray

gardener

Posts: 3344

Location: Cascades of Oregon

847

posted 2 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I've never heard of that behaviour. Honestly, I imagined a hen, laying an egg on her back and had to take a look at this post. I have never seen that either.

Our inability to change everything should not stop us from changing what we can.

Juniper Zen

pollinator

Posts: 184

Location: Northern California

I like...

posted 2 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Antonio Hache wrote:But it is more difficult for her to eat and drink that way.

She doesn't get up and walk around, and eat and drink normally? Is she spending all day in this position?

Zone 9b

Antonio Hache

Posts: 261

Location: Denia, Alicante, Spain. Zone 10. 22m height

posted 2 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Juniper Zen wrote:

Antonio Hache wrote:But it is more difficult for her to eat and drink that way.

She doesn't get up and walk around, and eat and drink normally? Is she spending all day in this position?

She moves towards the water or food, with lots of effort, and once she got what she wanted, she lays face up again

Antonio Hache

Posts: 261

Location: Denia, Alicante, Spain. Zone 10. 22m height

posted 2 years ago

3
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Robert Ray wrote:I've never heard of that behaviour. Honestly, I imagined a hen, laying an egg on her back and had to take a look at this post. I have never seen that either.

Yes, it is hard to imagine and also in English is more difficult because the double meaning of laying. In Spanish we'd say "poner un huevo" to "lay an egg" an "tumbarse" for "laying on her back". But in English is the same word.

But she is not laying eggs, she is laying just like The Dude in a couch

John F Dean

master steward

Posts: 7624

Location: southern Illinois, USA

2813

I like...

posted 2 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

First, separate it from the other chickens.

Some people age like fine wine. I aged like milk … sour and chunky.

Chris Vee

pollinator

Posts: 177

Location: South Carolina

I like...

posted 2 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I don't suppose we could get a video or photos of this phenomenon?... I'm going to say it's 5G

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~What are you going to do now?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Goin straight Bob. I don’t know, get a job, find myself a gal.. or, I dunno what people do nowadays, build-a, uh, a barn maybe, paint the barn with the gal, put the gal in the barn, you know; American dream."

Juniper Zen

pollinator

Posts: 184

Location: Northern California

I like...

posted 2 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Antonio Hache wrote:She moves towards the water or food, with lots of effort, and once she got what she wanted, she lays face up again

No idea what could be causing it, but that is indeed very strange behavior, which to me hints that she is feeling very unwell. You said she was limping before - maybe this is the way that she's found to keep pressure completely off an injury?

You already separated her, so I assume that you placed her food and water quite close, to make healing easier on her. If she were my chicken, I would probably bring her inside for extra close monitoring. But beyond that... I'd be doing the same as you, posting online wherever I could, because that is truly bizarre!

Zone 9b

Chris Vee

pollinator

Posts: 177

Location: South Carolina

I like...

posted 2 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

...Just a second thought; I'd definitely bring her inside as well; but possibly vertigo? Where her equilibrium is off therefor nausea is only relieved when upside-down? (in which case an ear issue or concussion) Please keep us posted

William Bronson

gardener

Posts: 5422

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio,Price Hill 45205

1114

I like...

posted 2 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

How is her vent/butt"
Maybe she's try to spare her sore bottom?

Eating Bindweed
Eating Buckwheat Greens
Paul explains why I spend time here,better than I could myself.

Antonio Hache

Posts: 261

Location: Denia, Alicante, Spain. Zone 10. 22m height

posted 2 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Here you have her . Most of the day she is in this position or even more exagerated

20230126_092759.jpg

Chris Vee

pollinator

Posts: 177

Location: South Carolina

I like...

posted 2 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Antonio Hache wrote:Here you have her . Most of the day she is in this position or even more exagerated

Man, I think subconsciously I was hoping for at least a little bit of humor but that is seriously heart-wrenching; it's been troubling me since I saw the picture. That poor thing.

Mercy Pergande

gardener

Posts: 372

190

I like...

posted 2 years ago

5
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I read that this can indicate a Vitamin B12 deficiency: Vitamin B12 deficiencies in chickens are common and can cause nervous system issues, leg weakness, and toes curling, making normal walking uncomfortable . In extreme cases your chicken will end up lying on its side or back to relieve its legs and feet.

"How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.“ — Dorothy L. Sayers

Antonio Hache

Posts: 261

Location: Denia, Alicante, Spain. Zone 10. 22m height

posted 2 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I gave this girl vitamins but it was too late. Other Sussex started like this and with vitamins improved, but once I stopped she got like that again and died.

Hard life in the coop

Be the Mr. Rogers of your neighborhood. This tiny ad will help you:

physical copy of the SKIP book

https://permies.com/wiki/160690/physical-copy-SKIP-book