I went to give the girls their breakfast this morning and Midge didn't budge. She's normally the first in line but she just sat on the perch all puffed up.

She had laid an egg but must have done it whilst on the perch as it was on the floor underneath where she was.

I managed to get the other 2 out in the garden to feed whilst I got a closer look at her and give her some water, she had a few sips of it then just turned her back on me

I don't know what to do!

Vet would be my first port of call if it's a pet chook. I'd also get her in somewhere warm with some food and water in front of her just to get her going. How old is she? Does she have a rattly cough or anything else which is not normal?, what colour is her poo? Has she been wormed recently? - also when did you last check for mites/lice etc? The trouble with birds is they can get sick over a long period of time and you don't notice - then all of a sudden they crash, to go off food and water is not a good thing, but the fact she is still laying may mean something more sudden rather than a longterm illness which is usually easier to treat with just some antibiotics/steriods etc - they are complicated things chooks!!! Let us know how she gets on.

__________________

Thanks for the reply.

She's an ex-battery and we rescued her in April this year with 2 others. I brought her in for a few hours at 10am before I went to work at 2pm with food and water. She attempted them both but mainly just sat quietly with her eyes closed like she was tired.

She did 2 poo's whilst in the house - both normal looking, and I check every week for mites etc...

My other half is on home so I've said if she's still not looking great to bring her in for the night. Do you think this is wise??

Yes I'd keep her in a warm cosy box for the night - and get the vet on the phone tomorrow, when they start closing their eyes like that and not really eating then you really need to get her help, or bump her off if you don't want to go down the vet route - she's obviously quite a poorly girl. Is she thin? - feel her keel and compare her to the other chooks and see what you think, I hope she survives the night - you never know miracles do happen she might look better in the morning - I've had that happen on occassion - just keep everything crossed!

__________________

She's still with us!!! And surprisingly back to her normal self...

Maybe she had eaten something in the garden that didn't agree with her, but she was first in line for brekkie this morning.

I'm going to get some carpet to put on top of the house to try and keep the warmth in and give them plenty of extra straw.

Bloody chickens hey